The reasonableness of toleration, and the unreasonableness of penal laws and tests wherein is prov'd by Scripture, reason and antiquity, that liberty of conscience is the undoubted right of every man, and tends to the flourishing of kingdoms and commonwealths, and that persecution for meer religion is unwarrantable, unjust, and destructive to humane society, with examples of both kinds.
         Penn, William, 1644-1718.
      
       
         
           1687
        
      
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             The reasonableness of toleration, and the unreasonableness of penal laws and tests wherein is prov'd by Scripture, reason and antiquity, that liberty of conscience is the undoubted right of every man, and tends to the flourishing of kingdoms and commonwealths, and that persecution for meer religion is unwarrantable, unjust, and destructive to humane society, with examples of both kinds.
             Penn, William, 1644-1718.
          
           [2], 40 [i.e. 38] p.
           
             Printed for John Harris ...,
             London :
             1687.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Freedom of religion.
           Liberty of conscience.
        
      
    
     
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           The
           Reasonableness
           ,
           OF
           TOLERATION
           ,
           AND
           The
           Unreasonableness
           OF
           Penal
           LAWS
           
             And
             Tests
          
           .
           Wherein
           is
           prov'd
           by
           Scripture
           ,
           Reason
           and
           Antiquity
           ,
           That
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           is
           the
           Undoubted
           Right
           of
           every
           Man
           ,
           and
           tends
           to
           the
           Flourishing
           of
           Kingdoms
           and
           Commonwealths
           ;
           And
           that
           Persecution
           for
           meer
           Religion
           is
           Unwarrantable
           ,
           Unjust
           ,
           and
           Destructive
           to
           Humane
           Society
           .
        
         
           With
           Examples
           of
           both
           kinds
           .
        
         
           Offer'd
           to
           the
           Consideration
           of
           a
           Person
           of
           Honour
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             John
             Harris
          
           at
           the
           Harrow
           against
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           Poultrey
           ,
           1687.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           The
           Reasonableness
           of
           Toleration
           ,
           and
           the
           Unreasonableness
           of
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           IT
           has
           been
           for
           many
           hundreds
           of
           years
           the
           main
           Scope
           and
           Aim
           of
           the
           Clergy
           in
           most
           Opinions
           ,
           to
           grasp
           into
           their
           Clutches
           the
           exercise
           of
           Temporal
           Jurisdiction
           ;
           &
           as
           in
           former
           times
           ,
           so
           now
           of
           late
           our
           Church
           of
           England
           Men
           ,
           have
           not
           been
           the
           least
           ambitious
           of
           that
           Authority
           :
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           the
           Clergy
           of
           England
           could
           never
           fix
           such
           Jurisdiction
           in
           themselves
           :
           but
           what
           they
           could
           not
           perform
           by
           their
           Spiritual
           Authority
           ,
           they
           brought
           to
           pass
           by
           the
           assistance
           of
           the
           Civil
           Power
           .
           They
           found
           that
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           had
           not
           given
           them
           the
           least
           title
           to
           lord
           it
           over
           the
           Consciences
           of
           Men
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           had
           left
           them
           any
           weapons
           to
           combat
           Dissenters
           in
           Opinion
           ,
           nay
           even
           Error
           it self
           ,
           onely
           Christian
           Admonition
           ;
           and
           at
           last
           ,
           when
           that
           would
           not
           prevail
           ,
           Publick
           Separation
           from
           Communion
           with
           such
           as
           obstinately
           persisted
           in
           defyance
           of
           the
           Truth
           .
           For
           this
           reason
           they
           never
           ceased
           to
           Amuse
           and
           Alarm
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           with
           continual
           Suspitions
           and
           Fears
           ,
           to
           render
           him
           jealous
           of
           all
           other
           Men
           that
           were
           not
           conformable
           to
           their
           Humours
           and
           Ceremonies
           .
           A
           passionate
           conceit
           of
           their
           own
           Perfection
           
           above
           others
           ,
           which
           no
           man
           of
           common
           sence
           can
           be
           reconciled
           to
           ,
           and
           a
           convincing
           argument
           that
           those
           Persons
           must
           have
           but
           little
           or
           no
           Conscience
           themselves
           ,
           who
           with
           so
           much
           Vigor
           and
           Obstinacy
           labour
           to
           uphold
           a
           Civil
           Persecution
           so
           directly
           opposite
           to
           all
           the
           dictates
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           Reason
           ,
           and
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           Scripture
           ,
           the
           Authority
           of
           it
           is
           so
           evident
           to
           the
           contrary
           that
           nothing
           can
           be
           more
           ,
           where
           it
           instructs
           the
           Servants
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           
             be
             gentle
             to
             all
             men
          
           ,
           sorbids
           Christians
           to
           
             Judge
             one
             another
          
           ,
           and
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           every
           man
           is
           
             to
             stand
             or
             fall
             to
             his
             own
             Master
             ;
             that
             one
             man
             esteems
             one
             day
             above
             another
             ,
             and
             another
             esteems
             all
             days
             alike
          
           ;
           yet
           
             happy
             is
             he
             who
             condemns
             not
             himselfe
             in
             that
             which
             he
             allows
             :
          
           That
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           whose
           Conscience
           does
           not
           inwardly
           accuse
           his
           outward
           profession
           :
           The
           same
           great
           and
           zealous
           Preacher
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           in
           the
           case
           of
           the
           unbelieving
           Wise
           and
           Husband
           gives
           such
           a
           mild
           and
           condescending
           answer
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           taken
           his
           Pen
           from
           a
           Doves
           wing
           ;
           Let
           neither
           Her
           nor
           Him
           that
           unbelieves
           depart
           ,
           if
           pleased
           to
           stay
           ;
           for
           that
           God
           had
           called
           us
           to
           peace
           ;
           adding
           withal
           ,
           that
           as
           
             God
             has
             called
             every
             one
             ,
             so
             let
             him
             walk
          
           ;
           and
           so
           he
           ordained
           
             to
             all
             the
             Churches
          
           :
           Certainly
           there
           could
           be
           nothing
           more
           divinely
           uttered
           to
           oblige
           the
           Professors
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           in
           Charity
           and
           Meekness
           to
           forbear
           one
           another
           ,
           then
           such
           an
           express
           Injunction
           of
           so
           authentick
           an
           Apostle
           ,
           to
           live
           peaceably
           with
           an
           Infidel
           .
           Nay
           ,
           writing
           to
           the
           Christians
           ,
           he
           absolutely
           denyes
           that
           even
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           ,
           have
           any
           Soveraignty
           over
           the
           Conscience
           ,
           but
           only
           commissions
           to
           aid
           and
           assist
           their
           Consciences
           :
           Not
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             that
             we
             have
             dominion
             over
             your
             Faith
             ,
             but
             are
             helpers
             of
             your
             Joy
             :
          
           Altogether
           conformable
           to
           that
           Doctrine
           of
           Meekness
           wherein
           Christ
           instructs
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           not
           to
           aspire
           to
           the
           Title
           of
           Rabbi
           ,
           or
           Master
           ,
           in
           
           Spiritual
           Affairs
           :
           besides
           that
           we
           are
           admonished
           to
           let
           the
           Tares
           grow
           among
           the
           Wheat
           ,
           till
           the
           time
           of
           Harvest
           .
        
         
           Nor
           is
           it
           for
           any
           man
           to
           suggest
           ,
           that
           this
           mild
           and
           moderate
           Temper
           was
           only
           intended
           for
           those
           Primitive
           Times
           ,
           when
           the
           Christians
           were
           liable
           to
           Persecution
           without
           any
           Temporal
           Power
           to
           defend
           themselves
           :
           For
           let
           the
           choicest
           Champions
           but
           grant
           that
           those
           were
           the
           best
           and
           purest
           times
           ,
           and
           then
           it
           will
           behove
           them
           to
           shew
           a
           Dormant
           VVarrant
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           by
           which
           Christ
           ever
           gave
           Commission
           to
           his
           Disciples
           to
           cut
           the
           Throats
           of
           all
           Dissenters
           ,
           or
           to
           despoil
           them
           of
           their
           Estates
           ,
           and
           send
           them
           to
           perpetual
           Banishment
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           done
           their
           work
           :
           But
           if
           they
           can
           bring
           no
           such
           authority
           ,
           they
           must
           acknowledge
           that
           Lording
           o'er
           the
           Conscience
           is
           an
           unwarrantable
           piece
           of
           Tyranny
           over
           the
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           of
           a
           Christian
           .
        
         
           True
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           Successors
           of
           Constantine
           were
           taught
           by
           their
           Eclesiasticks
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           two
           Duties
           required
           from
           them
           ;
           one
           as
           Christians
           ,
           the
           other
           as
           Soveraigns
           :
           that
           as
           Christians
           ,
           they
           were
           bound
           to
           obey
           divine
           Precepts
           ,
           as
           every
           private
           man
           is
           bound
           to
           do
           ;
           but
           as
           Princes
           ,
           to
           make
           good
           Laws
           ,
           and
           keep
           their
           Subjects
           steady
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           Piety
           ,
           Honesty
           and
           Justice
           ,
           chastizing
           the
           Transgressors
           of
           his
           sacred
           Laws
           ,
           espeaclally
           the
           Deacalogue
           .
           And
           because
           they
           who
           transgressed
           against
           the
           first
           Table
           ,
           which
           relates
           to
           divine
           worship
           ,
           were
           worse
           then
           they
           who
           transgressed
           against
           the
           Second
           ,
           which
           relates
           only
           to
           Justice
           between
           Man
           and
           Man
           ,
           therefore
           Princes
           were
           oblig'd
           to
           punish
           Blasphemy
           ,
           Perjury
           ,
           and
           Heresy
           ,
           more
           severely
           then
           Murder
           or
           Theft
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           Blasphemy
           and
           Perjury
           ,
           there
           was
           reason
           
           sufficient
           why
           they
           should
           be
           punished
           by
           civil
           Penalties
           ,
           For
           Blasphemers
           and
           Perjured
           Persons
           cannot
           be
           thought
           to
           be
           men
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           nor
           are
           they
           that
           take
           that
           Liberty
           to
           be
           endured
           ,
           for
           that
           Blasphemy
           and
           Perjury
           are
           criminal
           in
           all
           Religions
           ,
           and
           differing
           opinions
           whatever
           ,
           as
           being
           contrary
           to
           good
           manners
           ,
           and
           contaminations
           of
           civil
           Society
           ;
           but
           it
           does
           not
           follow
           from
           hence
           ,
           that
           every
           man
           must
           be
           punished
           as
           a
           Heretick
           ,
           who
           differs
           in
           his
           judgement
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           Certainly
           it
           must
           be
           first
           agreed
           upon
           ,
           what
           a
           Heretick
           is
           ,
           and
           who
           is
           that
           Heretick
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           that
           Law
           that
           reaches
           his
           offence
           ,
           before
           they
           can
           punish
           him
           by
           any
           Law.
           Now
           those
           things
           that
           make
           a
           Heretick
           ,
           are
           Errors
           in
           Fundamentals
           or
           about
           Fundamentals
           ,
           Conviction
           and
           Contumacy
           ;
           And
           they
           are
           Hereticks
           ,
           who
           obstinately
           and
           against
           the
           most
           evident
           light
           of
           Truth
           ,
           defend
           some
           doctrine
           directly
           or
           of
           necessary
           consequence
           tearing
           up
           the
           foundations
           of
           Christian
           Faith.
           The
           Church
           of
           England
           therefore
           should
           have
           made
           it
           out
           ,
           that
           the
           Dissenters
           and
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           were
           Hereticks
           of
           this
           sort
           ,
           Convicted
           and
           Contumacious
           ;
           and
           then
           all
           they
           could
           do
           ,
           was
           to
           put
           them
           under
           Excommunication
           ,
           not
           to
           torment
           their
           Persons
           and
           Estates
           ,
           with
           Mulcts
           ,
           Imprisonments
           ,
           Fines
           ,
           and
           Sequestrations
           ,
           which
           how
           dissonant
           it
           is
           from
           the
           Golden
           Rule
           of
           God
           Himself
           ,
           still
           preferring
           Mercy
           above
           Sacrifice
           ,
           is
           evidently
           apparent
           .
           The
           character
           of
           Menelaus
           in
           the
           second
           of
           Maccabees
           is
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           
             unworthy
             of
             the
             Preisthood
          
           ,
           as
           one
           that
           had
           
             the
             Fury
             of
             a
             cruel
             Tyrant
             ,
             and
             the
             Rage
             of
             a
             savage
             Beast
             .
          
           Conformable
           to
           which
           ,
           was
           that
           of
           Cicero
           ,
           quoted
           by
           
             Lactantius
             ,
             It
             is
             the
             most
             miserable
             thing
             in
             the
             world
             ,
          
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             to
             carry
             a
             savage
             and
             cruel
             disposition
             under
             the
             shape
             of
             a
             man.
          
           It
           is
           said
           that
           Diana
           of
           the
           Scythians
           ,
           had
           a
           Temple
           and
           an
           Altar
           near
           the
           entrance
           into
           the
           lake
           Meotis
           ,
           upon
           which
           it
           ,
           
           was
           the
           custom
           of
           the
           Heathens
           to
           Sacrifice
           the
           Bodies
           of
           living
           Men
           ;
           a
           Cruelty
           little
           differing
           from
           the
           severity
           of
           those
           People
           that
           seem
           to
           make
           their
           Interest
           their
           
             Scythian
             Diana
          
           ,
           and
           living
           Men
           the
           Sacrifices
           to
           their
           Ambition
           ,
           and
           the
           support
           of
           their
           Spiritual
           Grandeur
           .
           Yet
           this
           must
           be
           the
           main
           design
           of
           those
           that
           study
           thus
           the
           destruction
           of
           all
           other
           Mortals
           but
           themselves
           within
           the
           Verge
           of
           their
           Jurisdiction
           ;
           which
           as
           it
           is
           a
           great
           Argument
           of
           a
           Spiritual
           Arbitrary
           Government
           ,
           so
           is
           it
           at
           the
           same
           time
           a
           sign
           of
           no
           less
           Presumption
           for
           a
           particular
           number
           of
           Men
           ,
           enclosed
           within
           the
           narrow
           Circle
           of
           Episcopacy
           ,
           compar'd
           with
           those
           vast
           multitudes
           of
           Dissenters
           and
           Roman-Catholicks
           ,
           that
           under
           various
           names
           of
           distinction
           invented
           by
           their
           Adversaries
           ,
           spread
           themselves
           over
           the
           fourth
           part
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           arrogate
           to
           themselves
           to
           be
           the
           only
           Flock
           of
           Christ
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           are
           the
           only
           Pastors
           who
           have
           power
           to
           drive
           men
           to
           Heaven
           ;
           for
           this
           is
           to
           disclaim
           the
           Popes
           Supremacy
           ,
           and
           usurp
           it
           to
           themselves
           ;
           to
           Preach
           down
           one
           Antichrist
           ,
           and
           set
           up
           six
           and
           twenty
           :
           For
           if
           Meekness
           ,
           Mildness
           ,
           Unity
           ,
           Peace
           ,
           and
           Concord
           ,
           are
           the
           Vertues
           that
           embellish
           Christian
           Jurisdiction
           ;
           Cruelty
           ,
           Rigor
           ,
           Persecution
           and
           Violence
           ,
           must
           be
           the
           marks
           of
           Antichristian
           Tyranny
           .
        
         
           They
           therefore
           that
           so
           vehemently
           Persecute
           the
           Professors
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           because
           they
           either
           doubt
           or
           happily
           err
           in
           some
           particulars
           that
           will
           admit
           of
           Ambiguity
           ,
           and
           which
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           have
           been
           otherwise
           understood
           in
           former
           Ages
           ,
           are
           most
           unjust
           .
           For
           we
           find
           that
           the
           Antient
           Jews
           did
           never
           Punish
           the
           Sadduces
           ,
           tho
           they
           denied
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Resurrection
           .
           For
           that
           tho
           it
           were
           most
           true
           ,
           yet
           then
           it
           was
           but
           only
           glanced
           at
           in
           their
           Law
           ,
           and
           not
           taught
           at
           all
           ,
           but
           covertly
           under
           Types
           and
           Figures
           .
           But
           supposing
           
           the
           Errors
           to
           be
           such
           ,
           as
           among
           equal
           Judges
           might
           be
           easily
           confuted
           ,
           both
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           common
           Consent
           of
           the
           Fathers
           ;
           Nevertheless
           the
           great
           strength
           of
           an
           over-grown
           Opinion
           is
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           and
           how
           the
           Endeavours
           of
           Men
           to
           defend
           their
           own
           Sects
           ,
           diminishes
           the
           strength
           and
           liberty
           of
           their
           Judgments
           .
           A
           Man
           will
           sooner
           part
           with
           any
           thing
           than
           his
           Opinion
           :
           An
           Opinion
           ,
           says
           Chrysostom
           ,
           that
           has
           taken
           deep
           root
           through
           Custome
           ,
           is
           hardly
           to
           be
           removed
           :
           for
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           that
           we
           alter
           with
           more
           unwillingness
           then
           our
           Customes
           in
           Religion
           .
           But
           whether
           this
           different
           Opinion
           be
           an
           Error
           ,
           and
           how
           it
           is
           to
           be
           Punished
           ,
           he
           only
           can
           without
           danger
           judge
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           Eternal
           Judge
           ,
           who
           alone
           knows
           the
           true
           measures
           of
           Knowledge
           and
           the
           proportion
           of
           Faith.
           Let
           them
           Rage
           against
           you
           ,
           says
           St.
           Austin
           concerning
           the
           Manichees
           ,
           who
           can
           presume
           to
           be
           without
           Errors
           themselves
           ;
           for
           my
           part
           I
           neither
           can
           nor
           dare
           ,
           for
           I
           ought
           to
           bear
           with
           you
           as
           others
           did
           formerly
           with
           me
           ,
           and
           to
           treat
           you
           with
           as
           much
           Patience
           ,
           Meekness
           ,
           and
           Gentleness
           ,
           as
           they
           did
           me
           ,
           when
           I
           was
           blindly
           carryed
           away
           with
           your
           Errors
           .
           
             Religionis
             non
             est
             Religionem
             cogere
          
           ,
           says
           Tertullian
           ;
           And
           Athanasius
           also
           highly
           blames
           the
           Arrians
           ,
           because
           they
           were
           the
           first
           that
           call'd
           in
           the
           Civil
           Power
           to
           their
           Assistance
           against
           their
           Antagonists
           ,
           and
           that
           endeavoured
           by
           Force
           ,
           Stripes
           ,
           and
           Imprisonments
           ,
           to
           draw
           such
           to
           themselves
           ,
           whom
           they
           could
           not
           win
           by
           the
           strength
           of
           their
           Arguments
           .
           Gregory
           ,
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           writing
           to
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           said
           that
           it
           was
           a
           new
           and
           unheard
           of
           manner
           of
           Preaching
           ,
           to
           enforce
           Faith
           by
           Stripes
           and
           Punishments
           .
           History
           also
           affords
           us
           the
           Examples
           of
           several
           French
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           were
           condemned
           by
           the
           judgment
           of
           the
           Church
           for
           calling
           in
           
           the
           Civil
           Power
           against
           the
           Priscillianists
           ;
           and
           of
           a
           whole
           Council
           in
           the
           East
           that
           was
           Condemned
           for
           consenting
           to
           the
           Burning
           of
           Bogomilus
           .
           Conformable
           to
           the
           sayings
           of
           Plato
           ,
           The
           Punishment
           of
           him
           that
           Errs
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           Instructed
           .
           And
           of
           Seneca
           ,
           That
           no
           wise
           man
           ever
           hated
           those
           that
           Erred
           ;
           for
           if
           so
           ,
           he
           must
           necessarily
           sometimes
           hate
           himself
           :
           And
           therefore
           the
           Emperour
           Valentinian
           is
           highly
           commended
           ,
           because
           he
           never
           Persecuted
           any
           man
           for
           his
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           ever
           commanded
           this
           or
           that
           to
           be
           Adored
           ;
           nor
           forced
           his
           Subjects
           to
           Embrace
           his
           own
           manner
           of
           Worship
           .
        
         
           Infinite
           are
           the
           sayings
           of
           the
           Primitive
           Fathers
           and
           Men
           of
           Learning
           ,
           their
           Successors
           ,
           who
           have
           all
           along
           condemned
           the
           forcing
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           or
           compelling
           Men
           to
           do
           a
           thing
           which
           is
           contrary
           to
           their
           Conscience
           ,
           or
           to
           abstain
           from
           such
           Exercises
           as
           they
           in
           Conscience
           esteem
           necessary
           and
           profitable
           for
           their
           Salvation
           :
           all
           centring
           in
           the
           utter
           detestation
           of
           all
           manner
           of
           Violence
           and
           Imposition
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
           A
           Maxim
           which
           not
           all
           the
           Usurpations
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Persons
           have
           bin
           able
           to
           corrupt
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           was
           the
           saying
           of
           Montluc
           ,
           a
           Roman
           Catholic
           ,
           and
           Bishop
           of
           Valence
           ,
           That
           the
           Rigors
           of
           Torments
           was
           never
           to
           be
           practized
           towards
           People
           who
           had
           no
           other
           Crime
           but
           only
           a
           Perswasion
           which
           they
           thought
           to
           be
           good
           and
           pious
           .
           
             Peter
             Martyr
          
           speaking
           of
           the
           Power
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           It
           is
           her
           Duty
           ,
           
             says
             he
          
           ,
           to
           correct
           Sinners
           ,
           not
           with
           the
           Sword
           ,
           not
           with
           Penal-Laws
           or
           Fines
           ,
           not
           with
           Imprisonment
           or
           Exilement
           ,
           but
           after
           her
           own
           Method
           ,
           by
           the
           Efficacy
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           Word
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           said
           of
           Maximilian
           the
           Second
           ,
           Emperour
           of
           Germany
           ,
           That
           tho
           he
           persever'd
           to
           his
           death
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholic
          
           ,
           yet
           he
           was
           never
           the
           less
           disesteemed
           by
           the
           
           Protestants
           ;
           for
           that
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           he
           observed
           an
           exact
           Moderation
           between
           both
           Parties
           ,
           and
           never
           ceas'd
           till
           he
           had
           obtain'd
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Cup
           in
           the
           Eucharist
           ,
           for
           those
           of
           his
           Subjects
           that
           desir'd
           it
           .
           The
           same
           Emperour
           also
           gave
           this
           Advice
           to
           Henry
           the
           Third
           of
           France
           ,
           then
           returning
           out
           of
           Poland
           ,
           to
           quiet
           all
           disturbances
           in
           his
           Kingdom
           at
           his
           first
           Entrance
           into
           it
           ;
           according
           to
           the
           Example
           of
           his
           Father
           Ferdinand
           ,
           who
           after
           he
           had
           long
           toyl'd
           and
           labour'd
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Charles
           the
           V.
           to
           appease
           the
           troubles
           in
           Germany
           ,
           and
           settle
           the
           differences
           about
           Religion
           ,
           when
           he
           found
           the
           Minds
           of
           the
           People
           more
           provok'd
           ,
           then
           any
           remedy
           obtain'd
           by
           force
           and
           violence
           ,
           with
           the
           Consent
           and
           Applause
           of
           all
           the
           Orders
           of
           the
           Empire
           ,
           made
           those
           favourable
           Concessions
           ,
           which
           when
           nothing
           also
           would
           do
           ,
           restor'd
           Tranquilitie
           to
           the
           Empire
           .
        
         
           More
           Remarkable
           was
           that
           saying
           of
           Henry
           the
           Third
           of
           France
           Himself
           ,
           upon
           his
           Death-Bed
           ,
           after
           he
           had
           received
           his
           Deaths
           wound
           from
           Clement
           the
           Monk
           ,
           Nor
           let
           the
           cause
           of
           Religion
           deter
           ye
           :
           This
           Error
           long
           possess'd
           me
           ,
           and
           drew
           me
           into
           inextricable
           Mistakes
           .
           The
           pretence
           of
           Religion
           hurried
           us
           into
           Faction
           .
           Leave
           that
           to
           the
           judgment
           of
           the
           Orders
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           keep
           this
           in
           your
           Minds
           as
           a
           fix'd
           and
           constant
           Maxime
           ,
           That
           Religion
           ,
           which
           is
           inspir'd
           into
           the
           Minds
           of
           Men
           by
           God
           ,
           cannot
           be
           commanded
           by
           Men.
           Nay
           ,
           Pius
           the
           Fourth
           ,
           the
           none
           of
           the
           best
           of
           Popes
           ,
           yet
           being
           Sollicited
           by
           the
           French
           Embassador
           for
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Eucharist
           in
           both
           kinds
           ,
           had
           so
           much
           kindness
           for
           Toleration
           ,
           that
           he
           gave
           for
           answer
           to
           the
           Embassador
           ,
           That
           he
           had
           always
           thought
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Sacrament
           in
           both
           kinds
           ,
           and
           liberty
           for
           the
           Priest-hood
           to
           Marry
           ,
           were
           things
           indifferent
           ,
           and
           as
           depending
           rather
           upon
           the
           Decrees
           of
           the
           Fathers
           ,
           
           then
           upon
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           might
           be
           altered
           according
           to
           the
           constitutions
           of
           Times
           ,
           and
           alteration
           of
           Customes
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           the
           Council
           of
           Trent
           ,
           several
           of
           the
           wisest
           and
           chiefest
           of
           the
           Prelates
           stiffly
           argu'd
           against
           the
           Prohibition
           of
           the
           Use
           of
           the
           Cup
           ,
           affirming
           those
           to
           be
           void
           of
           Christian
           Charity
           ,
           who
           stood
           so
           strictly
           and
           so
           nicely
           upon
           a
           particular
           Ceremony
           ,
           the
           granting
           of
           which
           might
           prevent
           the
           Effusion
           of
           much
           Blood
           ,
           and
           recover
           into
           the
           Bosom
           of
           the
           Church
           many
           that
           were
           fallen
           from
           Her.
           
        
         
           And
           thus
           what
           Scripture
           and
           Humane
           Authority
           justify
           ,
           Common
           Reason
           is
           no
           less
           ready
           to
           uphold
           .
           For
           first
           ,
           If
           the
           word
           of
           God
           be
           the
           sole
           Rule
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           no
           Humane
           Authority
           be
           so
           highly
           impowr'd
           as
           to
           bind
           up
           our
           Assents
           to
           whatever
           Interpretations
           shall
           be
           propos'd
           ,
           then
           of
           necessity
           it
           follows
           that
           every
           Christian
           indifferently
           has
           an
           equal
           Interest
           in
           the
           will
           of
           the
           Creator
           ,
           so
           that
           no
           particular
           Person
           has
           a
           right
           to
           impose
           a
           force
           upon
           the
           judgment
           of
           his
           Brother
           .
           Thus
           one
           holds
           the
           Baptizing
           of
           Infants
           to
           be
           necessary
           ;
           another
           deems
           it
           lawful
           ;
           a
           third
           denies
           both
           these
           Opinions
           ,
           yet
           admitting
           that
           it
           may
           ,
           but
           that
           there
           is
           no
           necessity
           it
           should
           be
           done
           ;
           therefore
           they
           conferr
           Texts
           ,
           and
           examine
           the
           Original
           ;
           yet
           after
           all
           diligence
           used
           ,
           they
           still
           are
           but
           where
           they
           were
           .
           Now
           what
           reason
           can
           there
           be
           to
           advise
           Persecution
           for
           such
           a
           difference
           as
           this
           ?
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           There
           are
           several
           Disputes
           upon
           various
           Points
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           that
           cannot
           be
           cleard
           to
           any
           man
           by
           Arguments
           meerly
           natural
           ,
           as
           being
           matters
           of
           Fact
           ,
           such
           are
           the
           Miracles
           and
           Resurrection
           of
           Christ
           ,
           the
           Real
           Presence
           ,
           &c.
           
           For
           the
           belief
           of
           which
           therefore
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           need
           of
           Faith
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Gift
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           Nature
           :
           which
           being
           so
           ,
           and
           seeing
           more-over
           
           that
           it
           is
           not
           within
           the
           power
           of
           Man
           to
           give
           a
           reason
           why
           some
           Men
           believe
           ,
           and
           others
           are
           of
           a
           contrary
           Opinion
           ;
           it
           cannot
           fall
           under
           the
           Imagination
           of
           Man
           ,
           that
           either
           the
           defect
           or
           surplusage
           of
           belief
           ,
           which
           may
           perhaps
           glide
           into
           Superstition
           ,
           which
           of
           the
           two
           so'ere
           be
           the
           cause
           of
           the
           difference
           ,
           should
           be
           subject
           to
           the
           Punishment
           of
           Human
           Laws
           ;
           for
           tho
           both
           have
           the
           same
           outward
           helps
           and
           means
           to
           inform
           themselves
           ,
           yet
           the
           potent
           cause
           is
           in
           the
           will
           of
           God
           ,
           
             who
             will
             have
             Mercy
             upon
             whom
             he
             will
             have
             Mercy
             ,
             and
             whom
             he
             will
             he
             hardens
             .
          
           And
           therefore
           for
           this
           cause
           it
           was
           that
           Tertullian
           avers
           that
           the
           New
           Law
           of
           the
           Gospel
           does
           not
           call
           for
           the
           Sword
           to
           revenge
           the
           Injuries
           done
           it
           .
           And
           Sisibutus
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           was
           justly
           tax'd
           for
           compelling
           the
           Jews
           to
           Christianity
           by
           the
           coercive
           power
           of
           the
           Sword
           ,
           when
           he
           ought
           to
           have
           won
           them
           to
           the
           Faith
           by
           meek
           and
           gentle
           Perswasions
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           next
           place
           this
           violent
           and
           rigorous
           Proceeding
           and
           tyrannizing
           over
           the
           Consciences
           of
           Men
           ,
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           purpose
           of
           God
           in
           the
           Order
           of
           the
           Creation
           ,
           who
           made
           and
           ordain'd
           all
           Man-kind
           free
           from
           Bondage
           ,
           and
           never
           advanc'd
           him
           over
           all
           the
           Works
           of
           his
           Creation
           ,
           to
           be
           a
           contemptible
           Slave
           to
           the
           Will
           of
           his
           fellow
           Creature
           ,
           even
           in
           things
           Temporal
           ;
           much
           less
           in
           matters
           Spiritual
           and
           relating
           to
           Eternity
           .
           So
           that
           this
           same
           actual
           Violence
           of
           Imposing
           by
           force
           in
           matters
           of
           
             Faith
             ,
             Worship
          
           and
           Duty
           to
           God
           ,
           of
           one
           Man
           upon
           another
           ,
           or
           of
           some
           Persons
           over
           all
           ,
           is
           an
           Act
           of
           the
           highest
           Presumption
           imaginable
           ,
           that
           goes
           about
           to
           subdue
           to
           Bondage
           and
           Slavery
           ,
           those
           that
           are
           Created
           by
           God
           to
           equal
           Priviledges
           and
           Immunities
           with
           themselves
           ;
           subjecting
           them
           by
           Oppression
           ,
           not
           to
           the
           Divine
           Will
           of
           the
           Creator
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           Will
           ,
           Ambition
           and
           Interest
           of
           Mortal
           Creatures
           ,
           no
           less
           fraile
           and
           subject
           to
           Error
           
           then
           they
           over
           whom
           they
           affect
           illegal
           Dominion
           .
           A
           thing
           which
           is
           quite
           contrary
           to
           the
           most
           pure
           and
           perfect
           order
           of
           the
           Creation
           ,
           which
           was
           altogether
           blessed
           .
           From
           which
           whatever
           is
           degenerated
           by
           Corruption
           ,
           or
           has
           deviated
           by
           Temptation
           from
           that
           pure
           and
           regular
           Order
           ,
           either
           in
           things
           Temporal
           or
           Divine
           ,
           must
           be
           included
           within
           the
           curse
           of
           Sin
           ,
           and
           be
           lookt
           upon
           as
           an
           opposing
           the
           Creator
           himself
           .
           And
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           is
           Compulsion
           exercised
           in
           Spiritual
           matters
           ;
           as
           being
           the
           highest
           product
           of
           degenerate
           Usurpation
           ,
           and
           the
           grandest
           swerving
           imaginable
           from
           the
           chief
           design
           of
           the
           Creation
           .
           For
           without
           all
           question
           ,
           the
           Creator
           himself
           reserved
           and
           retained
           in
           his
           own
           power
           alone
           ,
           the
           priviledge
           of
           Supremacy
           over
           the
           Inward
           Man
           ,
           in
           all
           matters
           touching
           Immortality
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           be
           the
           only
           Lord
           in
           that
           case
           ,
           to
           give
           Spiritual
           Laws
           ,
           and
           to
           command
           the
           Souls
           and
           hearts
           of
           men
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           his
           own
           Worship
           ,
           and
           that
           Obedience
           which
           is
           due
           to
           himself
           ;
           so
           that
           of
           necessity
           it
           must
           be
           a
           Usurpation
           of
           the
           Creators
           rightful
           Dominion
           ,
           a
           robbing
           Him
           of
           his
           Dignity
           and
           Prerogative
           ,
           an
           act
           of
           Violence
           against
           his
           Soveraignty
           ,
           and
           a
           bold
           intruding
           into
           his
           proper
           Right
           ,
           for
           any
           Persons
           to
           assume
           to
           themselves
           Dominion
           and
           Authority
           over
           others
           ,
           by
           Commanding
           and
           Imposing
           in
           Spiritual
           matters
           upon
           their
           Consciences
           ,
           in
           the
           Worship
           and
           Service
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Add
           to
           this
           that
           Force
           is
           Punishment
           ,
           and
           consequently
           unjust
           ,
           unless
           the
           offence
           be
           voluntary
           :
           but
           he
           that
           believes
           according
           to
           the
           evidence
           of
           his
           own
           Reason
           ,
           is
           necessitated
           to
           that
           Belief
           ,
           and
           to
           compel
           him
           against
           it
           ,
           were
           to
           compel
           him
           to
           renounce
           the
           most
           essential
           part
           of
           man
           ,
           his
           reason
           :
           And
           that
           same
           injunction
           would
           be
           altogether
           vain
           ,
           
             To
             hold
             fast
             that
             which
             w●
             find
             to
             be
             best
             ,
          
           if
           after
           the
           most
           serious
           and
           deliberate
           
           Election
           ,
           we
           must
           be
           whipt
           out
           of
           our
           Consciences
           by
           Penalties
           .
           'T
           is
           but
           odly
           done
           to
           Preach
           a
           company
           of
           poor
           Souls
           into
           just
           so
           much
           Liberty
           of
           Scripture
           as
           may
           suffice
           to
           beget
           their
           torture
           ,
           and
           not
           permit
           them
           to
           rest
           where
           they
           find
           their
           satisfaction
           :
           Either
           utterly
           prohibit
           the
           search
           ,
           or
           let
           them
           enjoy
           the
           benefit
           of
           it
           .
           To
           believe
           what
           appears
           untrue
           ,
           is
           somewhat
           impossible
           ;
           but
           to
           profess
           what
           we
           believe
           untrue
           ,
           is
           absolutely
           damnable
           .
        
         
           Nor
           is
           it
           one
           of
           the
           least
           arguments
           against
           Compulsion
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           it
           breaks
           the
           bands
           of
           civil
           Society
           ,
           and
           annihilates
           all
           manner
           of
           Love
           ,
           Unity
           ,
           Fellowship
           ,
           and
           Concord
           among
           men
           .
           Neighbours
           are
           at
           enmity
           among
           Neighbours
           ,
           Brethren
           with
           Brethren
           ,
           and
           Families
           are
           divided
           among
           themselves
           .
           Princes
           and
           their
           Subjects
           ,
           Rulers
           and
           their
           People
           are
           at
           discord
           and
           debates
           ,
           that
           many
           times
           turns
           to
           absolute
           Disobedience
           and
           Rebellion
           ;
           while
           the
           one
           labours
           to
           Impose
           ,
           the
           other
           to
           keep
           off
           the
           Oppression
           .
           Men
           ,
           says
           Zenophon
           ,
           resist
           none
           with
           greater
           animosity
           ,
           then
           those
           that
           affect
           to
           Tyrannize
           over
           their
           bodies
           ;
           more
           especially
           such
           as
           seek
           to
           establish
           an
           illegal
           Dominion
           over
           their
           minds
           and
           Consciences
           .
           They
           contend
           
             pro
             Aris
          
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           and
           
             pro
             Focis
          
           afterwards
           ;
           thereby
           preferring
           the
           Liberty
           of
           their
           Consciences
           ,
           before
           the
           security
           of
           their
           Estates
           ;
           which
           they
           rather
           choose
           to
           abandon
           ,
           then
           to
           be
           deprived
           of
           their
           Spiritual
           Freedom
           .
           And
           this
           is
           that
           which
           causes
           ,
           and
           has
           caused
           so
           many
           thousands
           in
           this
           Nation
           to
           forsake
           their
           native
           Soyle
           ,
           their
           Friends
           &
           Relations
           ,
           to
           the
           decay
           of
           civil
           fellowship
           and
           Commerce
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           a
           detestable
           Antipathy
           to
           their
           Oppressors
           ,
           to
           seek
           for
           forraign
           Protection
           ,
           under
           which
           to
           enjoy
           the
           more
           noble
           and
           agreeable
           pleasure
           of
           enjoying
           the
           free
           exercise
           of
           their
           Sentiments
           in
           Divine
           Worship
           .
        
         
         
           Again
           ,
           Grotius
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           there
           never
           was
           any
           Sect
           that
           could
           discern
           all
           Truth
           ,
           nor
           any
           but
           what
           held
           something
           that
           is
           True
           ;
           as
           then
           they
           are
           to
           be
           favoured
           for
           what
           they
           hold
           of
           Truth
           ,
           so
           are
           they
           not
           to
           be
           punished
           for
           what
           they
           maintain
           of
           mistaken
           Beleif
           ;
           since
           all
           men
           are
           free
           by
           nature
           to
           believe
           whatever
           they
           think
           to
           be
           Good
           and
           Honest
           .
           We
           cannot
           love
           God
           too
           much
           .
           Now
           supposing
           that
           the
           Clergy
           of
           England
           ,
           may
           esteem
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           over
           zealous
           in
           some
           points
           of
           Worship
           which
           may
           be
           thought
           too
           Superstitious
           ,
           what
           then
           ?
           For
           Superstition
           does
           not
           sin
           in
           worshiping
           God
           too
           much
           ,
           but
           in
           worshiping
           him
           erroneously
           ;
           in
           point
           of
           which
           Error
           and
           consequent
           non-complyance
           with
           the
           Episcopal
           Tenents
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           these
           failings
           of
           theirs
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           squeez'd
           out
           of
           their
           Bones
           and
           Purses
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           reform'd
           by
           gentle
           Instructions
           and
           Convincement
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           true
           duty
           of
           Bishops
           to
           Instruct
           ,
           Perswade
           ,
           Exhort
           and
           Reprove
           ,
           but
           not
           to
           Command
           or
           Compel
           .
        
         
           To
           what
           has
           been
           said
           ,
           may
           be
           added
           the
           vanity
           of
           the
           Undertaking
           ,
           it
           having
           been
           all
           along
           evinc'd
           by
           the
           stories
           of
           all
           ages
           ,
           that
           forcing
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           Persecution
           for
           Religions
           sake
           ,
           have
           not
           only
           become
           frustrate
           ,
           but
           increased
           the
           number
           of
           those
           Sects
           and
           Divisions
           of
           which
           they
           sought
           the
           extirpation
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Sword
           ,
           Exile
           ,
           Fagot
           ,
           Imprisonment
           ,
           and
           heavy
           Fines
           ,
           rather
           provoak
           then
           cure
           the
           obstinacy
           of
           reluctant
           Minds
           .
           For
           the
           conformation
           of
           which
           ,
           we
           find
           from
           the
           beginning
           and
           for
           a
           long
           time
           the
           Christian
           Relgion
           industriously
           opposed
           by
           the
           most
           Potent
           Adversaries
           ,
           then
           ruling
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           Extirpation
           of
           it
           no
           less
           cruelly
           labour'd
           by
           the
           fury
           of
           
             Ten
             Persecutions
          
           ;
           yet
           could
           not
           all
           that
           vast
           effusion
           of
           Blood
           put
           a
           stop
           to
           its
           progress
           ,
           nor
           prevent
           its
           growing
           to
           such
           a
           Head
           ,
           as
           at
           length
           to
           turn
           Tyrannick
           Heathenism
           with
           all
           her
           
           fantastick
           Abominations
           ,
           and
           false
           Divinities
           quite
           out
           of
           the
           World.
           The
           same
           may
           be
           said
           of
           the
           Albigenses
           ,
           against
           whom
           the
           Fryers
           preached
           ,
           the
           Inquisitors
           Plotted
           ,
           the
           Princes
           made
           War
           ,
           while
           the
           Pope
           accursed
           their
           Persons
           ,
           and
           interdicted
           their
           Lands
           ,
           yet
           for
           all
           the
           Pope
           could
           do
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           supprest
           .
           And
           of
           the
           Waldenses
           ,
           says
           Thuanus
           ,
           tho
           they
           were
           toss'd
           from
           Post
           to
           Pillar
           ,
           yet
           there
           were
           ever
           some
           found
           ,
           who
           still
           in
           their
           several
           courses
           renewed
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           buryed
           as
           it
           were
           for
           a
           season
           .
           For
           Sects
           and
           Opinions
           are
           like
           Books
           ,
           which
           the
           more
           they
           are
           suppressed
           ,
           the
           more
           they
           are
           sought
           after
           and
           caress'd
           :
           And
           therefore
           Tacitus
           ,
           speaking
           of
           the
           Annalls
           of
           
             Cremutius
             Cordus
          
           ,
           condemn'd
           by
           the
           Senate
           to
           be
           burnt
           ,
           for
           advancing
           the
           Praises
           of
           Brutus
           and
           Cassius
           ,
           relates
           that
           some
           indeed
           were
           burnt
           by
           the
           Edils
           ,
           but
           more
           were
           preserv'd
           ,
           and
           ,
           afterwards
           published
           .
           An
           argument
           (
           says
           he
           )
           sufficient
           that
           the
           vanity
           and
           madness
           of
           those
           men
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           derided
           ,
           who
           imagin
           by
           present
           Power
           to
           stifle
           the
           remembrances
           of
           future
           Ages
           .
           And
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           Trent
           ,
           speaking
           of
           the
           prohibition
           of
           Heretical
           Books
           ,
           observes
           that
           it
           did
           more
           harm
           then
           good
           ,
           while
           the
           Books
           being
           sought
           for
           as
           such
           ,
           did
           but
           serve
           to
           raise
           and
           instill
           new
           doubts
           and
           scruples
           in
           the
           minds
           of
           the
           Readers
           .
           The
           same
           is
           to
           be
           said
           of
           the
           Persecutions
           of
           Men
           in
           their
           Bodies
           and
           Goods
           ;
           for
           others
           observing
           the
           extream
           Patience
           and
           Constancy
           of
           so
           many
           People
           suffering
           for
           their
           particular
           Opinions
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           become
           curious
           to
           understand
           what
           that
           Religion
           should
           be
           that
           inspires
           men
           with
           so
           much
           resolution
           to
           suffer
           the
           worst
           of
           Miseries
           ,
           rather
           then
           abandon
           the
           Profession
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           reason
           that
           Persecutors
           according
           to
           the
           Opinion
           of
           Strada
           ,
           though
           they
           are
           not
           concerned
           in
           tormenting
           ,
           yet
           they
           dread
           the
           Triumphs
           of
           the
           Tormented
           at
           their
           Executions
           ,
           for
           
           that
           it
           has
           been
           frequently
           known
           that
           one
           Martyr
           ●
           made
           many
           Proselytes
           ,
           by
           his
           resolute
           maintaining
           to
           the
           last
           ,
           the
           Profession
           for
           which
           he
           dyed
           .
        
         
           From
           hence
           we
           may
           proceed
           to
           shew
           the
           dreadful
           Effects
           and
           Mischiefs
           that
           have
           attended
           the
           Persecutions
           of
           tender
           Consciences
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           have
           generally
           prov'd
           most
           fatal
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           end
           redounded
           to
           the
           greatest
           loss
           of
           the
           Persecutors
           themselves
           ;
           for
           of
           all
           the
           Roman
           Emperours
           that
           exerciz'd
           those
           horrid
           Cruelties
           upon
           the
           Christians
           under
           their
           subjection
           ,
           only
           Trajan
           and
           
             Septimius
             Severus
          
           dy'd
           a
           natural
           Death
           ;
           for
           as
           for
           Antoninus
           the
           Philosopher
           ,
           tho
           he
           suffer'd
           a
           Persecution
           in
           Asia
           ,
           yet
           in
           other
           parts
           of
           his
           Dominions
           the
           Christians
           were
           unmolested
           ,
           and
           served
           him
           in
           his
           Army
           ,
           where
           they
           fought
           for
           him
           so
           effectually
           ,
           as
           well
           with
           their
           Prayers
           as
           with
           their
           Swords
           ,
           that
           he
           acknowledged
           to
           the
           Senate
           ,
           as
           much
           hated
           as
           they
           were
           ,
           that
           certainly
           the
           Christians
           had
           God
           for
           their
           Protector
           .
           All
           the
           rest
           came
           to
           untimely
           ends
           ;
           either
           their
           own
           Executioners
           ,
           or
           Murdered
           by
           their
           own
           Souldiers
           and
           Servants
           ;
           tho
           none
           so
           remarkably
           punished
           for
           their
           Cruelties
           as
           Valerian
           ,
           who
           being
           vanquished
           by
           Sapor
           the
           Persian
           ,
           was
           by
           him
           made
           his
           Foot
           ,
           stool
           when
           he
           took
           Horse
           ,
           and
           at
           length
           was
           flead
           alive
           .
           What
           occasioned
           the
           Cossac
           War
           so
           prejudicial
           to
           Poland
           ,
           but
           because
           the
           
             Russian
             Polonians
          
           of
           the
           
             Catholic
             Religion
          
           would
           have
           forc'd
           the
           Cossacks
           to
           the
           Observation
           of
           their
           Churches
           ,
           and
           to
           that
           end
           have
           shut
           up
           the
           Grecian
           Churches
           ?
           What
           occasioned
           the
           Revolt
           of
           the
           Rustic's
           in
           Germany
           ,
           and
           the
           Hussites
           in
           Bohemia
           ?
           What
           occasioned
           the
           League
           of
           Smalcald
           ,
           and
           the
           cruel
           VVar
           that
           ensued
           ,
           but
           the
           Oppression
           of
           the
           Ecclesiasticks
           ?
           By
           which
           all
           that
           was
           got
           was
           this
           ,
           that
           the
           Bloody
           Ecclesiasticks
           satisfy'd
           their
           Revenge
           with
           the
           slaughter
           of
           the
           poor
           People
           ;
           while
           the
           other
           indulge'd
           
           their
           hatred
           ,
           and
           Sacrific'd
           to
           their
           Antipathy
           the
           VVealth
           and
           Religious
           Structures
           of
           their
           Persecutors
           ;
           and
           between
           both
           ,
           whole
           Regions
           and
           Countries
           were
           depopulated
           and
           ruin'd
           .
           VVhat
           lost
           Philip
           the
           Second
           so
           fair
           a
           Portion
           of
           his
           Dominions
           ,
           but
           his
           severity
           in
           forcing
           Conscience
           ?
           But
           his
           bigotted
           Zeal
           to
           gratify
           the
           Interest
           of
           Rome
           ,
           by
           suffering
           his
           Grand
           Executioner
           Alva
           to
           ride
           Triumphantly
           in
           the
           Chariot
           of
           the
           Abominated
           Inquisition
           ,
           over
           the
           Necks
           of
           his
           tender-Conscienc'd
           Subjects
           ,
           till
           he
           had
           by
           all
           manner
           of
           Torments
           disburden'd
           the
           Countrey
           of
           no
           less
           then
           eighteen
           thousand
           Innocent
           Christians
           .
        
         
           The
           Reign
           of
           Charles
           the
           Ninth
           ,
           deform'd
           with
           Civil
           VVars
           ,
           with
           various
           success
           of
           Battel
           ,
           with
           Seiges
           and
           Sacks
           of
           Cities
           and
           Towns
           ,
           and
           havock
           of
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           was
           rendered
           yet
           more
           in
           famous
           by
           the
           Parisian
           Massacre
           ,
           then
           which
           ,
           there
           never
           was
           a
           more
           Inhumane
           piece
           of
           Barbarity
           known
           among
           the
           Heathens
           themselves
           .
           But
           what
           was
           the
           Advantage
           of
           their
           Butchery
           ?
           What
           the
           Issue
           of
           it
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           after
           he
           had
           emptyed
           his
           Kingdom
           of
           ten
           thousand
           of
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           among
           which
           five
           hundred
           all
           Persons
           of
           Quality
           ?
           In
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           upon
           too
           late
           a
           Consideration
           ,
           a
           deep
           Repentance
           for
           having
           given
           his
           Consent
           ,
           and
           a
           Resolution
           had
           he
           liv'd
           to
           have
           Punished
           his
           Advisors
           :
           then
           every
           Night
           his
           Slumbers
           interrupted
           with
           nocturnal
           Terrors
           ,
           till
           having
           linger'd
           under
           most
           grievous
           and
           tedious
           Pains
           ,
           and
           long
           perceiv'd
           his
           death
           approach
           before
           he
           dy'd
           ;
           he
           ended
           his
           days
           a
           young
           Youth
           ,
           in
           the
           24th
           Year
           of
           his
           Age.
           
        
         
           To
           omit
           the
           loss
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           cruelty
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           ,
           we
           find
           the
           People
           in
           all
           places
           the
           most
           devoted
           and
           accustomed
           to
           Ecclesiastical
           Rigour
           ,
           mutinying
           even
           to
           Blood-shed
           ,
           against
           the
           Torments
           of
           that
           Tribunal
           .
        
         
         
           In
           
             Naples
             ,
             Peter
          
           of
           Toledo
           the
           Viceroy
           ,
           in
           Obedience
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           would
           fain
           have
           brought
           it
           in
           ;
           but
           when
           he
           began
           to
           put
           it
           in
           Execution
           ,
           it
           caus'd
           such
           an
           Uproar
           among
           the
           People
           ,
           that
           it
           came
           to
           be
           almost
           a
           petty
           VVar
           between
           the
           Commonalty
           and
           the
           Garrison
           ,
           wherein
           many
           were
           slain
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Viceroy
           was
           forc'd
           to
           desist
           in
           his
           design
           ;
           neither
           has
           any
           offer
           been
           made
           to
           obtrude
           any
           such
           kind
           of
           Office
           upon
           that
           Kingdom
           ever
           since
           .
        
         
           Even
           in
           Rome
           it self
           ,
           the
           People
           detested
           the
           Cruelties
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           to
           that
           degree
           ,
           that
           the
           Breath
           was
           no
           sooner
           out
           of
           the
           Body
           of
           Paul
           the
           IV.
           but
           that
           they
           went
           with
           great
           furie
           to
           the
           new
           Prison
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           ,
           brake
           down
           the
           Doors
           and
           let
           out
           all
           the
           Prisoners
           therein
           detained
           ,
           &
           could
           hardly
           be
           restrained
           from
           setting
           on
           fire
           the
           Church
           of
           the
           Dominicans
           ,
           as
           being
           the
           Persons
           entrusted
           with
           the
           Execution
           of
           that
           rigid
           Employment
           More
           then
           that
           ,
           in
           detestation
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           ,
           all
           enrag'd
           ,
           they
           forc'd
           their
           way
           into
           the
           Palace
           ,
           and
           meeting
           the
           Popes
           Statue
           all
           of
           Parian
           Marble
           ,
           and
           a
           noble
           piece
           of
           Workmanship
           ,
           they
           cut
           off
           the
           Head
           and
           the
           right
           Hand
           ,
           and
           for
           three
           days
           together
           kickt
           them
           about
           the
           streets
           ,
           and
           made
           them
           the
           sport
           of
           the
           whole
           City
           .
        
         
           Nor
           has
           England
           it self
           felt
           the
           least
           share
           of
           the
           Inconveniencies
           of
           Spiritual
           Persecution
           :
           where
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           have
           been
           made
           use
           of
           only
           as
           Traps
           and
           Snares
           to
           dis-People
           the
           Nation
           .
           What
           false
           Crimes
           were
           laid
           to
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           by
           the
           flatterers
           of
           the
           Emperour
           
             Sep.
             Severus
          
           ,
           to
           Incense
           him
           to
           the
           first
           Persecution
           ,
           the
           same
           Accusations
           were
           lately
           thrown
           upon
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           of
           being
           Homicides
           ,
           Turbulent
           ,
           Sacrilegious
           ,
           Traytors
           against
           Caesar
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           word
           meer
           Canibals
           :
           And
           by
           vertue
           of
           which
           pretended
           Calumnies
           and
           meditated
           Slanders
           ,
           the
           Civil
           
           Magistrate
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           good
           Opinion
           he
           has
           of
           those
           that
           make
           the
           clamour
           ,
           not
           presently
           discerns
           the
           Trapan
           which
           is
           put
           upon
           them
           to
           make
           Laws
           for
           the
           punishment
           of
           those
           Persons
           ,
           over
           whom
           they
           have
           indeed
           no
           jurisdiction
           ;
           till
           at
           length
           the
           ill
           use
           of
           those
           Laws
           better
           informs
           their
           judgement
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           were
           imposed
           upon
           to
           frame
           Persecuting
           Statutes
           ,
           and
           authorize
           Prosecutions
           ,
           not
           to
           prevent
           disturbances
           in
           Government
           ,
           but
           to
           gratifie
           the
           Pride
           and
           Ambition
           of
           their
           hot-headed
           Advisers
           ;
           hence
           under
           pretence
           of
           disaffection
           to
           the
           Civil
           Power
           ,
           continual
           Plots
           and
           Treasons
           are
           discovered
           ,
           and
           the
           discovery
           so
           well
           managed
           ,
           that
           some
           are
           Hanged
           ,
           others
           Fin'd
           ,
           others
           condemned
           to
           long
           Imprisonment
           .
           Which
           Accusations
           ,
           because
           they
           reach
           not
           many
           ,
           therefore
           all
           the
           rest
           ,
           as
           being
           Birds
           of
           the
           same
           feather
           ,
           must
           suffer
           for
           their
           sakes
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           pretences
           being
           still
           kept
           on
           foot
           for
           a
           Covert
           ,
           they
           let
           fly
           the
           Arrows
           of
           their
           Indignation
           against
           the
           whole
           Body
           ,
           and
           chastize
           the
           pretence
           ,
           where
           they
           could
           not
           find
           any
           fact
           committed
           to
           punish
           .
           And
           indeed
           the
           grounds
           of
           the
           pretence
           are
           the
           only
           crimes
           committed
           against
           them
           ;
           all
           that
           will
           not
           conform
           to
           their
           Ceremonies
           are
           supposed
           to
           be
           seditious
           Persons
           ;
           none
           that
           go
           to
           Meetings
           and
           Conventicles
           can
           be
           Good
           and
           Loyal
           Subjects
           :
           and
           therefore
           all
           that
           will
           not
           Conform
           ,
           or
           Refrain
           from
           going
           to
           Meetings
           ,
           must
           be
           scourged
           with
           the
           scorpions
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Censure
           and
           Excommunication
           ;
           must
           be
           amerc'd
           at
           pleasure
           ,
           Imprison'd
           till
           Submission
           ,
           many
           to
           their
           utter
           Impoverishment
           ,
           or
           till
           they
           pine
           away
           in
           Jayle
           :
           and
           they
           that
           would
           live
           peaceably
           and
           quietly
           under
           the
           Government
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           rest
           in
           their
           own
           Families
           .
           Upon
           this
           thousands
           take
           their
           flight
           beyond
           Sea
           ,
           and
           draw
           off
           their
           Estates
           ,
           by
           which
           means
           the
           Kingdom
           is
           depopulated
           ,
           the
           Manufacture
           of
           the
           Nation
           carryed
           
           into
           forraign
           Countries
           ,
           and
           the
           Prince
           loses
           the
           Assistance
           of
           the
           Wealth
           and
           Persons
           of
           so
           many
           of
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           to
           the
           ruine
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           and
           scandal
           of
           the
           Government
           .
           A
           sort
           of
           Christian
           Politicks
           which
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           could
           only
           learn
           from
           the
           uncharitable
           bigotrie
           of
           that
           same
           Prince
           ,
           who
           cryed
           out
           ,
           That
           he
           would
           rather
           choose
           to
           be
           King
           of
           a
           Countrey
           without
           People
           ;
           then
           of
           a
           Kingdome
           Peopled
           with
           Heriticks
           :
           Contrary
           to
           the
           saying
           of
           Adrian
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           wisest
           among
           the
           Roman
           Emperours
           ,
           That
           he
           wished
           his
           Empire
           strengthed
           rather
           by
           the
           encrease
           of
           People
           and
           Inhabitants
           ,
           then
           excess
           of
           Treasure
           .
           But
           this
           was
           neither
           the
           Policy
           of
           the
           Antient
           Heathens
           ,
           nor
           of
           the
           more
           prudent
           Common
           wealths
           and
           Governments
           of
           latter
           Ages
           .
        
         
           Among
           all
           the
           Heathen
           Nations
           that
           we
           meet
           with
           in
           History
           ,
           the
           Egyptions
           were
           the
           first
           from
           whom
           all
           the
           world
           beside
           ,
           the
           Jews
           excepted
           ,
           deriv'd
           that
           same
           Dark
           Knowledge
           which
           the
           other
           had
           of
           the
           Gods
           and
           Divine
           Worship
           .
           Their
           early
           Superstition
           had
           set
           up
           no
           less
           then
           twelve
           Divinities
           to
           begin
           withal
           ,
           who
           were
           all
           worship'd
           in
           various
           Shapes
           with
           various
           Rites
           and
           Ceremonies
           ;
           all
           which
           with
           their
           several
           Portraitures
           and
           Sacred
           Mysteries
           (
           for
           so
           they
           call'd
           the
           Rites
           of
           Adoration
           belonging
           to
           every
           Idol
           )
           the
           Grecians
           afterwards
           translated
           into
           their
           own
           Countrey
           ,
           and
           for
           a
           while
           exactly
           observed
           the
           Precepts
           and
           Methods
           of
           their
           first
           Instructors
           .
           Here
           was
           a
           great
           number
           of
           Divinities
           with
           every
           one
           a
           particular
           form
           of
           worship
           attending
           him
           ,
           and
           yet
           we
           do
           not
           find
           that
           the
           Grecians
           were
           afraid
           to
           transport
           them
           all
           into
           their
           several
           Cities
           ,
           for
           fear
           least
           the
           variety
           of
           Superstitions
           ,
           should
           set
           their
           People
           together
           by
           the
           Ears
           ,
           while
           one
           Priest
           cry'd
           up
           his
           Divinity
           ,
           another
           extoll'd
           his
           ,
           and
           shatter'd
           the
           Vulgar
           into
           Factions
           and
           Contentions
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           
           best
           .
           No
           ,
           the
           Priests
           were
           still
           contented
           with
           what
           followers
           they
           had
           ,
           and
           every
           man
           was
           left
           to
           his
           freedom
           to
           worship
           what
           Divinity
           he
           pleas'd
           ,
           as
           his
           Affection
           and
           Devotion
           govern'd
           him
           .
           A
           strange
           misfortune
           to
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           that
           the
           Heathens
           should
           be
           so
           conformable
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           so
           much
           varietie
           of
           feign'd
           Divinities
           ,
           and
           we
           not
           be
           able
           to
           adjust
           those
           few
           Ceremonies
           in
           dispute
           relating
           to
           the
           worship
           of
           the
           true
           and
           one
           God
           ,
           when
           we
           have
           his
           own
           inspir'd
           Scripture
           for
           our
           Guide
           .
        
         
           In
           Athens
           there
           were
           as
           many
           Sects
           and
           Opinions
           dayly
           taught
           ,
           as
           there
           were
           almost
           Philosophers
           in
           the
           City
           ;
           and
           many
           differing
           in
           their
           Sentiments
           even
           concerning
           the
           Gods
           themselves
           .
           Yet
           the
           Magistrate
           was
           never
           call'd
           upon
           for
           their
           Suppression
           ,
           but
           rather
           they
           were
           cherish'd
           and
           honour'd
           with
           Statues
           after
           their
           Death
           .
           The
           Magistrates
           ,
           Rulers
           and
           greatest
           Captains
           of
           that
           Age
           were
           their
           Hearers
           and
           Disciples
           ,
           adhering
           at
           pleasure
           to
           whom
           they
           thought
           fit
           ,
           as
           their
           Reason
           and
           Judgement
           lead
           them
           .
           And
           this
           publick
           Toleration
           it
           was
           that
           render'd
           Athens
           one
           of
           the
           most
           Famous
           and
           Flourishing
           Cities
           of
           the
           World.
           Nor
           was
           Socrates
           punish'd
           for
           introducing
           an
           innovation
           in
           their
           Religion
           ,
           but
           because
           he
           neither
           could
           inform
           his
           Judges
           ,
           nor
           they
           were
           able
           to
           understand
           who
           that
           God
           was
           ,
           therefore
           they
           put
           him
           to
           Death
           for
           injuring
           all
           the
           rest
           whom
           they
           believ'd
           to
           be
           as
           true
           as
           his
           unknown
           Deity
           .
        
         
           I
           pass
           but
           lightly
           over
           the
           Jews
           ,
           by
           reason
           they
           had
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           true
           God
           ,
           and
           were
           oblig'd
           not
           to
           engage
           in
           the
           Superstitions
           of
           the
           Heathens
           ;
           yet
           were
           they
           not
           so
           rigid
           neither
           as
           to
           exclude
           the
           Gentiles
           from
           among
           them
           ,
           but
           had
           their
           
             Atrium
             Gentium
          
           for
           their
           Reception
           ,
           altho
           unconverted
           ;
           nor
           did
           they
           refuse
           the
           Sacrifices
           and
           Oblations
           of
           the
           the
           Kings
           of
           Egypt
           ,
           
           nor
           those
           of
           Augustus
           and
           Fiberius
           ;
           all
           which
           they
           thought
           no
           breach
           of
           their
           Laws
           to
           offer
           up
           in
           their
           Holy
           Temples
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           return
           to
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           this
           is
           farther
           to
           be
           observ'd
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           so
           far
           from
           Suppressing
           varietie
           of
           Opinions
           ,
           that
           they
           took
           no
           notice
           of
           the
           many
           Fables
           of
           the
           Poets
           ,
           that
           dayly
           uttered
           such
           irreverent
           and
           mean
           Thoughts
           of
           their
           ador'd
           Divinities
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           them
           Robbers
           ,
           Adulterers
           and
           Drunkards
           ;
           incident
           to
           all
           the
           frailties
           ,
           and
           guilty
           of
           all
           the
           Crimes
           that
           the
           worst
           of
           men
           can
           be
           said
           to
           commit
           .
           How
           soever
           these
           Fables
           every
           day
           made
           some
           change
           or
           other
           in
           their
           Religon
           ;
           for
           the
           Gods
           still
           multiplying
           by
           procreation
           and
           Canonization
           of
           Heroes
           ,
           Greece
           was
           so
           stockt
           and
           replenisht
           with
           Deities
           ,
           that
           they
           sent
           whole
           Colonies
           of
           feign'd
           Divinities
           among
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           who
           gave
           them
           free
           admission
           ,
           without
           disputing
           the
           Toleration
           of
           their
           new
           invented
           Sacrifices
           ,
           Lustrations
           and
           other
           Superstitions
           ,
           tho
           perhaps
           never
           heard
           of
           before
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           their
           Gods
           would
           be
           sometimes
           out
           of
           humour
           ;
           but
           their
           particular
           Priests
           had
           a
           care
           how
           they
           pusht
           their
           feigned
           Anger
           too
           far
           ,
           &
           found
           out
           a
           way
           by
           some
           Oracle
           or
           other
           to
           understand
           their
           meaning
           and
           set
           all
           right
           again
           .
           However
           it
           shews
           that
           had
           the
           Priest-hood
           been
           as
           captious
           then
           ,
           as
           some
           of
           ours
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           they
           might
           have
           put
           so
           many
           Capricio's
           into
           the
           heads
           ,
           sometimes
           of
           one
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           of
           another
           Idol
           ,
           as
           might
           have
           given
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           no
           small
           vexation
           .
        
         
           Among
           the
           Romans
           the
           Catalogue
           of
           their
           Gods
           exceeded
           Thirty
           Thousand
           ;
           and
           their
           forms
           of
           Worship
           were
           as
           various
           as
           they
           .
           For
           their
           God
           Pan
           they
           had
           their
           Luperci
           and
           Lupercalia
           .
           For
           Ceres
           their
           secret
           Mysteries
           and
           Female
           Priests
           .
           For
           Hercules
           they
           had
           their
           Potitij
           and
           Pinarij
           .
           They
           had
           also
           their
           
             Arval
             Fraternity
          
           ,
           
           and
           their
           sixty
           Curiones
           to
           offer
           up
           Sacrifice
           in
           behalf
           of
           the
           several
           Curiae
           or
           Parishes
           in
           Rome
           .
           They
           had
           their
           Colledge
           of
           Augurs
           ,
           and
           their
           
           Flamin's
           ;
           for
           Mars
           they
           had
           their
           Salij
           ;
           for
           their
           Goddess
           
             Dea
             Bona
          
           ,
           they
           had
           their
           
             Vestal
             Nuns
          
           ;
           for
           Cybele
           ,
           their
           Galli
           and
           Corybantes
           .
           All
           this
           lookt
           like
           the
           Variety
           of
           our
           Sects
           and
           Opinions
           at
           this
           day
           ;
           and
           yet
           we
           never
           hear
           of
           those
           Contentions
           ,
           Disputes
           and
           Enmities
           that
           rage
           among
           us
           .
           They
           never
           incens'd
           the
           Magistrate
           to
           Persecution
           ,
           but
           as
           they
           agreed
           singly
           together
           ,
           so
           they
           agreed
           in
           the
           whole
           ;
           or
           if
           any
           difference
           happened
           among
           them
           in
           point
           of
           Religion
           ,
           't
           was
           but
           repairing
           to
           the
           Colledge
           of
           Pontiffs
           ,
           where
           their
           questions
           were
           immediately
           resolv'd
           ,
           and
           their
           determinations
           never
           contradicted
           .
           And
           for
           a
           farther
           mark
           of
           this
           general
           Toleration
           ,
           we
           find
           the
           Pantheon
           erected
           ,
           and
           after
           it
           was
           burnt
           down
           ,
           Rebuilt
           by
           Adrian
           ,
           where
           all
           the
           Gods
           were
           worshiped
           in
           common
           .
           Moreover
           we
           find
           mention
           made
           in
           Suetonius
           of
           
             Collegia
             antiqua
             et
             Sacra
          
           ,
           in
           the
           Plural
           Number
           ,
           upon
           which
           Cujacius
           Animadverts
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Senate
             and
             Princes
             of
             the
          
           Roman
           
             People
             permitted
             several
             Colledges
             as
             well
             for
             the
             Exercise
             of
             Forraign
             Religion
             ,
             as
             of
             that
             of
             their
             own
             Countrey
             :
          
           And
           Augustus
           confest
           ,
           
             That
             he
             permitted
             the
             Colledges
             and
             Assemblies
             of
             the
          
           Jews
           ,
           
             because
             he
             found
             them
             to
             be
             the
             Schools
             of
             Temperance
             and
             Justice
             ,
          
           not
           as
           they
           were
           reported
           ,
           
             the
             Seminaries
             of
             Sedition
          
           .
        
         
           To
           proceed
           to
           the
           Christians
           ,
           They
           were
           no
           sooner
           grown
           numerous
           ,
           but
           we
           find
           them
           muster'd
           in
           the
           Armies
           of
           the
           Heathen
           Emperours
           ,
           and
           tolerated
           without
           disturbance
           by
           Commodus
           ,
           tho
           a
           bad
           Prince
           ;
           in
           whose
           time
           Pontienus
           set
           up
           a
           School
           in
           Alexandria
           ,
           where
           he
           publicly
           Taught
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
             .
             Alexander
             Severus
          
           gave
           public
           Toleration
           to
           the
           Christians
           ,
           in
           so
           much
           that
           when
           a
           Complaint
           was
           made
           to
           him
           by
           the
           Rabble
           that
           kept
           public
           Tipling-Houses
           ,
           that
           
           the
           Christians
           had
           taken
           possession
           of
           a
           place
           to
           Build
           a
           Church
           in
           the
           ground
           that
           belonged
           to
           them
           ,
           he
           return'd
           for
           his
           answer
           ,
           
             That
             't
             was
             much
             better
             that
             God
             should
             be
             Worshiped
             in
             that
             place
             after
             any
             form
             ,
             then
             that
             it
             should
             be
             allow'd
             for
             Houses
             of
             Debauchery
             .
          
           And
           thus
           we
           find
           that
           Toleration
           of
           Religion
           was
           allow'd
           so
           long
           as
           Heathenism
           continued
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           To
           these
           succeeded
           Constantine
           ,
           the
           first
           of
           all
           the
           Roman
           Emperours
           that
           made
           open
           Profession
           of
           Christianity
           .
           By
           whom
           we
           find
           such
           an
           Indulgence
           given
           not
           only
           to
           the
           Christians
           ,
           but
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Religions
           ,
           with
           the
           consent
           of
           his
           Collegue
           in
           the
           Empire
           ,
           Licinius
           ;
           that
           we
           could
           not
           omit
           the
           Insertion
           in
           this
           place
           of
           the
           most
           material
           part
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           
             At
             what
             time
             ,
             I
          
           Constantine
           Augustus
           ,
           
           and
           Licinius
           Augustus
           
             happily
             met
             at
          
           Millain
           ,
           
             and
             had
             in
             Consultation
             whatever
             might
             conduce
             to
             the
             public
             benefit
             and
             security
             ;
             among
             the
             rest
             we
             thought
             those
             things
             were
             first
             to
             be
             taken
             care
             of
             ,
             which
             would
             prove
             most
             profitable
             to
             most
             men
             ,
             as
             relating
             to
             the
             Worship
             of
             the
             Supream
             Deity
             ;
             to
             which
             purpose
             we
             thought
             fit
             to
             grant
             to
             the
             Christians
             and
             all
             others
             ,
             free
             Liberty
             to
             exercise
             what
             Religion
             every
             one
             best
             approv'd
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             we
             might
             render
             that
             Supream
             Divinity
             who
             sits
             in
             his
             Coelestial
             Throne
             ,
             propitious
             to
             Us
             and
             all
             the
             People
             under
             our
             Dominion
             :
             Wherefore
             following
             this
             wholsome
             Counsel
             ,
             and
             the
             Dictates
             of
             right
             Reason
             ,
             we
             thought
             it
             our
             safest
             and
             wisest
             course
             not
             to
             deny
             Liberty
             to
             any
             one
             ,
             who
             either
             followed
             the
             Profession
             of
             the
             Christians
             ,
             or
             addicted
             himself
             to
             any
             other
             Religion
             which
             he
             thought
             most
             agreeable
             with
             his
             Judgment
             ,
             that
             the
             most
             High
             God
             ,
             to
             whom
             we
             freely
             and
             heartily
             yield
             Obedience
             ,
             may
             afford
             us
             his
             wonted
             Favour
             and
             Kindness
             in
             all
             our
             Enterprizes
             .
             For
             this
             reason
             we
             give
             your
             Excellency
             to
             
             understand
             that
             it
             is
             our
             pleasure
             ,
             that
             all
             Restraints
             formerly
             appearing
             in
             your
             Office
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             Christians
             being
             disannull'd
             ,
             we
             do
             now
             Enact
             sincerely
             and
             plainly
             ,
             That
             every
             one
             who
             has
             a
             mind
             to
             observe
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             may
             freely
             do
             it
             without
             any
             disturbance
             or
             molestation
             .
             Which
             we
             have
             thought
             fit
             fully
             to
             signify
             to
             your
             Excellency
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             you
             might
             understand
             that
             we
             have
             given
             free
             and
             absolute
             leave
             to
             the
             Christians
             for
             the
             Exercise
             of
             their
             Religion
             .
             And
             as
             we
             have
             granted
             this
             Indulgence
             to
             them
             ,
             so
             your
             Excellency
             is
             likewise
             to
             understand
             that
             we
             have
             granted
             the
             same
             open
             and
             free
             Liberty
             to
             all
             others
             to
             Exercise
             the
             Religion
             to
             which
             they
             have
             chosen
             to
             adhere
             ,
             for
             the
             Tranquility
             of
             our
             Reign
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             that
             every
             one
             may
             be
             free
             in
             the
             Election
             of
             his
             Worship
             without
             any
             Prejudice
             from
             us
             ,
             either
             to
             his
             Honour
             or
             to
             his
             Religion
             .
             And
             this
             we
             thought
             fit
             moreover
             to
             decree
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             Christians
             ,
             that
             their
             Meeting-Places
             be
             restor'd
             them
             without
             any
             hesitation
             or
             delay
             ,
             and
             without
             the
             demand
             of
             any
             Fees
             or
             Sums
             of
             Money
             :
             And
             if
             any
             Fines
             or
             Mulcts
             have
             been
             Sequester'd
             formerly
             into
             our
             Exchequer
             ,
             or
             taken
             by
             any
             other
             Person
             ,
             that
             the
             same
             be
             also
             restor'd
             them
             without
             the
             least
             Diminution
             .
             Or
             if
             they
             have
             any
             Favour
             to
             request
             further
             at
             our
             hands
             ,
             let
             them
             make
             choice
             of
             any
             of
             our
             Advocates
             to
             take
             care
             of
             their
             Affairs
             .
          
           [
           The
           rest
           I
           omit
           ,
           as
           less
           pertinent
           to
           our
           purpose
           .
           ]
        
         
           But
           after
           them
           ,
           when
           the
           Emperours
           began
           to
           lend
           an
           Ear
           to
           Ecclesiastic
           Rigour
           ,
           and
           Sects
           became
           Predominant
           as
           they
           were
           guarded
           by
           the
           Power
           and
           Protection
           of
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           strange
           thing
           how
           soon
           the
           several
           Schisms
           and
           Opinions
           that
           had
           taken
           root
           under
           the
           milder
           sway
           of
           the
           Heathens
           ,
           began
           to
           rend
           the
           Church
           into
           a
           thousand
           Factions
           ;
           and
           whereas
           a
           single
           Colledge
           of
           Pontiffs
           would
           serve
           the
           Heathen
           Priest-hood
           to
           resolve
           their
           Doubts
           the
           Determination's
           of
           National
           Councils
           could
           not
           put
           a
           stop
           to
           the
           Growing
           
           Controversies
           of
           the
           Christians
           ,
           but
           from
           words
           they
           fell
           to
           blows
           ;
           and
           happy
           they
           who
           could
           get
           the
           Soveraign
           Prince
           on
           their
           side
           ,
           for
           the
           other
           were
           sure
           to
           go
           by
           the
           worst
           .
           So
           early
           was
           the
           Civil
           Power
           made
           an
           Engine
           to
           support
           the
           Pride
           and
           Ambition
           of
           Spiritual
           Contenders
           .
           At
           what
           time
           an
           Eutychian
           Pope
           ,
           by
           Name
           Horsmisdas
           ,
           having
           the
           upper
           hand
           ,
           gave
           this
           Motto
           for
           answer
           to
           all
           that
           admonish'd
           him
           of
           his
           Severity
           .
           
             Nos
             Imperare
             volumus
             ,
             nos
             Imperari
             nolumus
             .
          
           It
           were
           to
           be
           wish'd
           that
           this
           Motto
           may
           not
           have
           got
           too
           much
           Footing
           in
           England
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           seem'd
           for
           a
           time
           exterminated
           from
           the
           Earth
           ,
           till
           we
           meet
           with
           it
           again
           among
           the
           Goths
           ,
           who
           as
           Procopius
           alledges
           ,
           would
           never
           in
           the
           height
           of
           all
           their
           Conquests
           ,
           compel
           the
           vanquished
           to
           embrace
           the
           Religon
           which
           they
           professed
           ,
           but
           left
           them
           to
           their
           own
           :
           it
           being
           always
           the
           Maxime
           of
           Rulers
           truly
           generous
           ,
           to
           engage
           men
           rather
           as
           their
           Friends
           then
           as
           their
           Slaves
           ,
           thinking
           themselves
           far
           more
           safe
           in
           a
           free
           ,
           then
           in
           a
           compell'd
           Obedience
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           descend
           to
           latter
           times
           ,
           we
           find
           that
           even
           among
           the
           Mahumetans
           ,
           all
           over
           Turky
           ,
           no
           man
           is
           compell'd
           to
           embrace
           the
           Mahumetan
           Superstition
           ,
           but
           that
           all
           People
           ,
           unless
           the
           Professors
           of
           
             Heathenish
             Idolatry
          
           ,
           are
           left
           to
           the
           exercise
           of
           their
           own
           Religion
           .
           And
           this
           ,
           as
           several
           Authors
           observe
           ,
           was
           at
           first
           the
           chiefest
           means
           by
           which
           the
           Turks
           enlarged
           their
           Empire
           over
           the
           Christian
           VVorld
           .
           For
           that
           many
           People
           rather
           chose
           to
           live
           under
           the
           Turk
           ,
           permitting
           them
           the
           Liberty
           of
           their
           Consciences
           ,
           then
           under
           the
           Exorbitant
           Tyranny
           of
           the
           Spanish
           Inquisition
           .
           And
           further
           ,
           others
           observe
           ,
           That
           nothing
           has
           rendered
           the
           Turk
           more
           powerful
           then
           the
           King
           of
           Spain's
           Expulsion
           of
           all
           the
           Moors
           and
           Turks
           out
           of
           his
           Territories
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1609
           ,
           
           at
           what
           time
           above
           a
           Hundred
           and
           twenty
           Thousand
           of
           those
           Exiles
           retir'd
           into
           Africa
           and
           other
           parts
           of
           the
           Turkish
           Dominions
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           benefit
           of
           the
           Turks
           ,
           who
           learnt
           from
           them
           to
           Combat
           the
           Europeans
           with
           their
           own
           Weapons
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           Arts
           of
           War.
           
        
         
           The
           Persians
           give
           Liberty
           to
           the
           Melchites
           under
           the
           Patriarch
           of
           Antiochia
           ,
           who
           obstinately
           maintain
           all
           those
           Errors
           that
           were
           condem'd
           by
           the
           Synod
           of
           Florence
           ;
           together
           with
           the
           Nestorians
           and
           Christian
           Armenians
           ,
           who
           have
           no
           Patriarchs
           of
           their
           own
           ;
           nor
           are
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholics
          
           excluded
           the
           chief
           City
           of
           Ispahan
           .
           To
           which
           we
           may
           add
           their
           Toleration
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           the
           Dissenting
           Sects
           in
           their
           own
           Religion
           .
        
         
           In
           Poland
           ,
           tho
           generally
           the
           Nobility
           adhere
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           yet
           they
           prohibit
           none
           ;
           and
           the
           mixture
           of
           
             Lutherans
             ,
             Calvinists
             ,
             Socinians
             ,
             Anabaptists
             ,
             Greeks
          
           and
           Jews
           ,
           who
           there
           enjoy
           most
           ample
           Priviledges
           ,
           apparently
           demonstrates
           ,
           well-constituted
           Government
           to
           be
           no
           Enemy
           to
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           .
           Nor
           does
           the
           scrupulous
           Muscovite
           exclude
           those
           of
           the
           Augustan
           Confession
           from
           having
           a
           Church
           of
           their
           own
           within
           view
           of
           the
           City
           of
           Moscow
           it self
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           Switzers
           are
           a
           Prudent
           People
           appears
           by
           the
           permanent
           constitution
           of
           their
           Government
           ,
           by
           them
           upheld
           and
           propagated
           for
           so
           many
           Ages
           together
           ;
           their
           Concord
           has
           rendered
           them
           Populous
           ,
           and
           their
           Populousness
           has
           made
           them
           formidable
           to
           all
           the
           Neighbouring
           Princes
           ,
           by
           whom
           they
           have
           been
           all
           along
           courted
           for
           their
           Assistance
           ,
           and
           to
           whom
           they
           have
           been
           beholding
           for
           the
           chiefest
           part
           of
           their
           Conquests
           .
           All
           this
           while
           a
           People
           half
           Protestants
           ,
           half
           
           Catholic's
           ,
           yet
           in
           general
           so
           equally
           unanimous
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           particular
           Cities
           so
           peaceably
           intermix'd
           ,
           that
           you
           never
           hear
           among
           them
           ,
           since
           they
           first
           leagu'd
           together
           for
           the
           common
           Security
           ,
           of
           any
           Quarrels
           or
           Contentions
           for
           Superiority
           ;
           or
           of
           any
           Fines
           ,
           Imprisonments
           ,
           or
           Banishing
           of
           the
           Dissenting
           parties
           ;
           nor
           do
           they
           refuse
           their
           Protection
           to
           any
           that
           fly
           from
           other
           Countries
           to
           seek
           Tranquility
           of
           Conscience
           among
           them
           .
           There
           is
           the
           same
           mixture
           of
           the
           two
           Professions
           of
           Popery
           and
           Calvinism
           among
           the
           Grisons
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           Unanimity
           ;
           and
           this
           Confirm'd
           by
           the
           league
           of
           the
           
             Ten
             Jurisdictions
          
           ,
           by
           which
           all
           Disputations
           concerning
           Religion
           are
           forbid
           ,
           to
           prevent
           Exasperation
           and
           Contests
           among
           Nations
           and
           Friends
           ,
           tho
           differing
           in
           Opinion
           .
        
         
         
           In
           Venice
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholic
          
           Religion
           prevails
           ;
           yet
           such
           is
           the
           Prudence
           and
           Generosity
           of
           the
           Government
           and
           Governours
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           deny
           to
           others
           that
           Liberty
           which
           they
           enjoy
           themselves
           ;
           in
           so
           much
           that
           tho
           they
           admitted
           the
           Inquisition
           into
           their
           Territories
           ,
           yet
           they
           fil'd
           it's
           sharp
           Fangs
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           ,
           that
           the
           malice
           and
           fury
           of
           it
           was
           render'd
           ineffectual
           ;
           for
           they
           decreed
           that
           the
           Inquisition
           should
           not
           meddle
           either
           with
           Witches
           or
           Inchanters
           ;
           nor
           with
           those
           that
           should
           offer
           to
           Buffet
           an
           Image
           ,
           or
           Lampoon
           the
           Vices
           and
           Disorders
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           nor
           indeed
           have
           any
           power
           to
           prohibit
           the
           Printing
           of
           any
           Books
           whatever
           .
           That
           it
           should
           have
           no
           power
           over
           Blasphemy
           ,
           or
           such
           as
           married
           two
           Wives
           ;
           nor
           in
           causes
           of
           Usury
           .
           That
           it
           should
           have
           no
           Jurisdiction
           over
           
             Jews
             ;
             Infidels
          
           ,
           or
           those
           that
           follow
           the
           Ceremonies
           of
           the
           Greek
           Church
           ;
           nor
           any
           Authority
           over
           any
           secular
           Trade
           or
           Profession
           ;
           and
           in
           all
           other
           Causes
           whatever
           that
           were
           brought
           before
           the
           Tribunal
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           ,
           they
           reserv'd
           to
           themselves
           the
           Examination
           ,
           Judgment
           and
           final
           Determination
           of
           the
           Matter
           ;
           which
           indeed
           was
           an
           absolute
           Toleration
           of
           
             Jews
             ,
             Infidels
          
           and
           
             Greek
             Christians
          
           ,
           and
           under
           that
           Notion
           ,
           of
           all
           other
           Opinions
           that
           they
           pleas'd
           themselves
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           Witches
           ,
           They
           gave
           this
           reason
           why
           the
           Inquisition
           should
           not
           meddle
           with
           them
           ,
           
             For
             that
             they
             were
             generally
             Women
             ,
             a
             poor
             People
             Craz'd
             in
             their
             Understandings
             ,
             and
             therefore
             more
             fitting
             to
             be
             instructed
             by
             the
             Minister
             ,
             then
             punished
             by
             the
             Judge
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           Blasphemy
           ,
           the
           punishment
           of
           it
           belong'd
           to
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           ;
           and
           so
           for
           Bigamy
           and
           Usury
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Toleration
           of
           
             Jews
             ,
             &c.
          
           they
           argu'd
           from
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
             That
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             Authority
             had
             no
             power
             over
             those
             that
             were
             not
             in
             the
             Church
             .
          
           And
           in
           behalf
           of
           the
           Greeks
           they
           urg'd
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Difference
             and
             Disputes
             between
             the
          
           Greek
           and
           Roman
           
             Church
             were
             yet
             Undetermined
             ,
             and
             that
             therefore
             it
             was
             not
             sit
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Rome
           
             should
             be
             Judge
             in
             her
             own
             Cause
             .
          
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           Against
           the
           Prohibition
           of
           Books
           they
           pleaded
           ,
           
             That
             it
             was
             the
             way
             to
             stifle
             Learning
             ,
             and
             prevent
             the
             coming
             forth
             of
             many
             good
             Books
             ,
             necessary
             for
             the
             Instruction
             of
             Man
             kind
             .
             That
             it
             belong'd
             only
             to
             the
             Civil
             Magistrates
             to
             prevent
             the
             Enormities
             of
             Scandalous
             Writers
             ,
             and
             therefore
             that
             the
          
           Ecclesiastie's
           
             were
             not
             to
             thrust
             their
             Sickles
             into
             other
             mens
             Harvests
             .
          
           Thus
           we
           find
           the
           Venetians
           ,
           tho
           in
           other
           things
           Obedient
           to
           the
           See
           of
           Rome
           ,
           yet
           
           in
           the
           point
           of
           Toleration
           altogether
           Dissenting
           from
           it
           ;
           for
           they
           believe
           it
           to
           be
           their
           Interest
           to
           take
           care
           ,
           least
           the
           People
           being
           depriv'd
           of
           the
           Liberty
           of
           their
           Minds
           ,
           should
           be
           alienated
           in
           their
           Affections
           from
           the
           Government
           ;
           therefore
           they
           are
           contented
           that
           the
           People
           should
           enjoy
           their
           Liberty
           ,
           provided
           they
           do
           not
           disturb
           the
           Public
           Peace
           .
        
         
           To
           return
           into
           Germany
           ,
           even
           in
           Vienna
           it self
           ,
           the
           chief
           City
           of
           the
           Empire
           ,
           the
           Emperour
           Maximilianus
           the
           Second
           allow'd
           the
           
           Evangelic's
           the
           free
           exercise
           of
           their
           Religion
           in
           the
           Monastery
           of
           the
           Minorites
           ,
           which
           tho
           it
           were
           deny'd
           them
           by
           his
           Son
           Rudolphus
           the
           Second
           ,
           was
           again
           by
           the
           Indulgence
           of
           Matthias
           the
           Emperour
           restor'd
           them
           ;
           so
           that
           they
           had
           their
           public
           Assemblies
           at
           Hornals
           ,
           a
           Village
           close
           by
           the
           City
           ;
           within
           the
           Walls
           of
           which
           they
           had
           besides
           the
           freedom
           to
           Baptize
           ,
           Administer
           the
           Sacrament
           ,
           and
           Marry
           according
           to
           their
           own
           forms
           ,
           till
           Ferdmand
           the
           Second
           retracted
           their
           priviledges
           ,
           and
           forc'd
           them
           ,
           whenever
           the
           Duty
           of
           their
           Worship
           required
           ,
           to
           go
           as
           far
           as
           Presburgh
           or
           Edenburgh
           .
        
         
           It
           would
           be
           too
           long
           to
           trace
           the
           several
           Regions
           of
           Germany
           ,
           where
           so
           many
           Soveraign
           Princes
           and
           Free
           States
           ,
           exemplary
           for
           their
           Justice
           and
           Moderation
           ,
           foster
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           as
           the
           main
           support
           of
           their
           Governments
           .
           'T
           will
           be
           enough
           to
           mention
           briefly
           those
           of
           chiefest
           note
           ;
           the
           Dukes
           of
           
             Saxony
             ,
             Brunswick
          
           and
           Lunenburgh
           ,
           the
           Dukes
           of
           Wittenbergh
           and
           Holsatia
           ,
           the
           Elector
           Palatine
           ,
           the
           Duke
           of
           Bavaria
           ,
           tho
           of
           the
           Romish
           perswasion
           ,
           the
           Duke
           of
           Newburgh
           and
           the
           Landgrave
           of
           Hessen
           ,
           the
           Cities
           of
           
             Ratisbone
             ,
             Frankford
          
           upon
           the
           Main
           ,
           and
           Spire
           ,
           where
           the
           
           Evangelic's
           are
           allow'd
           the
           free
           exercise
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           and
           meet
           every
           Sunday
           ,
           from
           seven
           till
           eight
           in
           the
           Morning
           ,
           and
           from
           twelve
           till
           one
           in
           the
           Afternoon
           :
           not
           to
           omit
           Auspurgh
           ,
           where
           the
           chief
           Magistrates
           of
           the
           City
           are
           half
           Protestants
           and
           half
           Papists
           ;
           nor
           those
           most
           Noble
           Emporiums
           of
           the
           Northern
           parts
           of
           
             Europe
             ,
             Hamborough
             ,
             Lubeck
             ,
             Breme
          
           and
           Dantzick
           :
           to
           which
           if
           we
           should
           add
           the
           States
           of
           the
           United
           Netherlands
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           only
           to
           trouble
           the
           Reader
           with
           what
           is
           known
           to
           all
           the
           World.
           And
           yet
           the
           Flourishing
           condition
           of
           these
           Countries
           and
           Territories
           ,
           the
           Number
           of
           People
           ,
           and
           the
           Tranquility
           which
           they
           enjoy
           ,
           apparently
           Demonstrate
           ,
           
             That
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             is
             no
             such
             Enemy
             to
             Man-kind
             ,
             as
             to
             be
             so
             rudely
             harrass'd
             and
             exterminated
             from
             the
             Earth
             with
             all
             the
             Rigors
             and
             Vexations
             that
             render
             Life
             uncomfortable
             .
          
        
         
         
           Having
           thus
           established
           the
           Truth
           of
           Religions
           Toleration
           upon
           the
           Foundations
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           Reason
           ,
           Authority
           and
           Example
           ,
           certainly
           the
           wonder
           must
           be
           very
           great
           among
           discerning
           Persons
           ,
           that
           men
           who
           boast
           a
           more
           refin'd
           Profession
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           who
           aspire
           to
           Peace
           ,
           to
           Love
           ,
           to
           Moderation
           ,
           and
           Truth
           toward
           all
           men
           ,
           should
           with
           so
           much
           Passion
           and
           bitter
           Animosity
           ,
           exercise
           their
           hatred
           upon
           their
           Brethren
           ,
           for
           the
           Niceties
           of
           different
           Opinions
           ;
           so
           that
           if
           we
           come
           to
           know
           of
           what
           Profession
           they
           are
           ,
           't
           is
           their
           imperfection
           ,
           not
           their
           Perfection
           that
           makes
           the
           discovery
           :
           Which
           preceeds
           from
           hence
           ,
           
             That
             Ecclesiastical
             Functions
             and
             Dignities
             are
             esteem'd
             for
             the
             Benefits
             and
             Advantages
             men
             reap
             thereby
             either
             of
             Wealth
             or
             Fame
             .
          
           Which
           Abuse
           once
           crept
           into
           the
           Church
           ,
           was
           the
           first
           occasion
           that
           many
           men
           of
           Evil
           Principles
           greedily
           thirsted
           after
           Ecclesiastical
           Preferments
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           love
           of
           propagating
           Sacred
           Religion
           degenerated
           into
           Avarice
           and
           Ambition
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Church
           it self
           was
           turn'd
           into
           a
           Theater
           ,
           where
           the
           great
           Doctors
           studied
           not
           the
           plainness
           of
           True
           Preaching
           ,
           but
           to
           shew
           the
           quaintness
           of
           their
           Oratory
           .
           They
           never
           bent
           their
           minds
           to
           Teach
           the
           People
           ,
           but
           to
           Tickle
           their
           Ears
           into
           an
           Admiration
           of
           their
           Elegant
           Expressions
           and
           gingling
           Satyrs
           upon
           Dissenters
           and
           Papists
           ,
           as
           they
           thought
           their
           Themes
           would
           be
           most
           pleasing
           to
           their
           Auditors
           ;
           which
           did
           but
           Inflame
           the
           Contentions
           already
           rais'd
           ,
           and
           beget
           contempt
           and
           hatred
           to
           themselves
           ,
           and
           breed
           an
           Animosity
           not
           easy
           to
           be
           reconcil'd
           in
           them
           who
           had
           been
           so
           rudely
           ,
           tho
           undeservedly
           handled
           .
           No
           wonder
           then
           that
           nothing
           remain'd
           of
           Primitive
           Religion
           besides
           the
           External
           Worship
           (
           with
           which
           the
           People
           rather
           seem'd
           to
           flatter
           then
           adore
           the
           Supream
           Divinity
           )
           and
           that
           Faith
           was
           now
           become
           no
           other
           then
           Credulity
           and
           Prejudice
           .
           That
           very
           Prejudice
           ,
           that
           renders
           men
           of
           Rational
           Creatures
           ,
           Brutes
           ;
           as
           being
           that
           which
           hinders
           every
           Man
           from
           making
           Use
           of
           his
           free
           Judgment
           ,
           and
           being
           able
           to
           distinguish
           Truth
           from
           Falshood
           ;
           and
           which
           seems
           to
           have
           been
           invented
           on
           purpose
           to
           extinguish
           the
           Light
           of
           the
           Understanding
           .
           Piety
           and
           Religion
           are
           made
           a
           Compound
           of
           Erroneous
           Mysteries
           of
           Humane
           Policy
           ;
           and
           they
           who
           contemn
           Reason
           ,
           and
           reject
           the
           directions
           of
           the
           Understanding
           as
           corrupted
           by
           Nature
           ;
           would
           themselves
           be
           thought
           to
           have
           the
           Divine
           Light
           ;
           tho
           had
           they
           but
           the
           least
           spark
           of
           Divine
           Light
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           so
           proudly
           insult
           ,
           but
           learn
           
           more
           Prudently
           to
           worship
           God
           ,
           and
           as
           now
           in
           Hatred
           ,
           so
           then
           in
           Love
           ,
           to
           excel
           the
           rest
           of
           their
           Brethren
           .
           Nor
           would
           they
           Persecute
           with
           such
           an
           open
           Hostility
           ,
           those
           that
           cannot
           in
           Conscience
           comply
           with
           their
           Impositions
           ,
           but
           rather
           take
           pity
           of
           their
           failings
           ,
           unless
           they
           would
           be
           thought
           more
           fearful
           of
           their
           own
           worldly
           Interest
           ,
           then
           sollicitous
           for
           the
           others
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           Seeing
           then
           that
           the
           Establishing
           of
           any
           Religious
           perswasion
           by
           force
           ,
           is
           so
           contrary
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           Reason
           and
           common
           Sence
           ,
           it
           remains
           then
           that
           only
           
             Worldly
             Interest
          
           ,
           and
           the
           support
           of
           a
           Domineering
           Hierarchy
           ,
           must
           be
           the
           chief
           Motives
           that
           engag'd
           the
           late
           Persecutors
           to
           procure
           those
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           which
           in
           contempt
           of
           the
           
             Light
             of
             Nature
          
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           Videmus
           Meliora's
           ,
           they
           put
           so
           rigorously
           in
           Execution
           .
           Laws
           that
           punish
           the
           very
           supposition
           of
           Crimes
           and
           Transgressions
           in
           Conceit
           ;
           Laws
           that
           punish
           the
           Body
           with
           Corporal
           Vexations
           for
           the
           supposed
           Transgressions
           of
           the
           Mind
           and
           Will
           ;
           Laws
           that
           pretended
           to
           dive
           into
           the
           Breasts
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           to
           discover
           Evil
           in
           their
           Thoughts
           ,
           as
           if
           enacted
           to
           torment
           the
           Souls
           of
           Mankind
           before
           their
           time
           :
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           Laws
           that
           were
           abolish'd
           by
           Reason
           as
           soon
           as
           made
           ;
           for
           if
           Laws
           are
           grounded
           upon
           Reason
           ,
           and
           these
           Laws
           are
           contrary
           to
           Reason
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           plain
           they
           were
           ,
           for
           that
           Laws
           are
           made
           to
           redress
           ,
           not
           to
           increase
           the
           grievances
           of
           the
           People
           ;
           then
           were
           they
           null
           as
           soon
           as
           form'd
           .
           For
           if
           Laws
           do
           not
           arise
           out
           of
           
             Natural
             Reason
          
           ,
           but
           are
           only
           made
           to
           avoid
           some
           greater
           mischief
           pretended
           to
           be
           foreseen
           ;
           we
           are
           not
           rashly
           to
           admit
           of
           such
           an
           Interpretation
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           that
           Sinful
           or
           Criminal
           which
           is
           otherwise
           Lawful
           .
           Thus
           to
           seperate
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           is
           a
           thing
           no
           way
           in
           it's
           self
           Unlawful
           ,
           and
           therefore
           cannot
           be
           made
           Criminal
           by
           a
           Law
           ,
           there
           being
           no
           natural
           Equity
           to
           make
           it
           so
           ,
           and
           consequently
           not
           Punishable
           by
           the
           Law.
           :
           Nor
           can
           their
           Meeting
           in
           Conventicles
           be
           a
           Crime
           ;
           for
           that
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           men
           that
           teach
           those
           things
           which
           are
           Just
           and
           Honest
           ,
           can
           never
           be
           fear'd
           ,
           especially
           when
           they
           are
           exact
           in
           their
           Obedience
           to
           the
           Magistrate
           ;
           nor
           should
           their
           private
           Assemblies
           be
           envied
           or
           suspected
           ,
           as
           being
           Just
           and
           Innocent
           Men
           ,
           till
           they
           are
           convicted
           of
           being
           otherwise
           .
           And
           therefore
           they
           that
           Persecute
           such
           People
           ,
           ought
           rather
           to
           be
           Prosecuted
           themselves
           ;
           for
           that
           by
           them
           the
           
             Law
             of
             Nature
          
           is
           brok'n
           in
           doing
           injustice
           to
           them
           that
           never
           offended
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           but
           natural
           equity
           to
           punish
           those
           that
           wrong
           
           their
           Neighbours
           without
           a
           cause
           .
           Which
           Cause
           can
           never
           be
           found
           in
           a
           Law
           made
           contrary
           to
           Reason
           ;
           in
           a
           Law
           made
           to
           gratify
           the
           Ambition
           and
           Interest
           of
           a
           Single
           Party
           ,
           to
           the
           disturbance
           of
           the
           Greater
           part
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           which
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           Common
           Good
           ,
           and
           consequently
           the
           End
           of
           Law.
           
        
         
           Moreover
           ,
           There
           is
           no
           Humane
           Law
           that
           can
           command
           or
           prohibit
           an
           Act
           ,
           purely
           directly
           and
           
             Secundum
             se
          
           ,
           internal
           .
           And
           this
           is
           grounded
           upon
           the
           common
           Axiome
           ,
           
             Cogitationis
             Paena
             nemo
             meretur
          
           :
           no
           man
           incurs
           the
           Punishment
           of
           Thought
           ,
           for
           the
           Law
           has
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           Internal
           Acts
           ;
           and
           therefore
           because
           it
           cannot
           naturally
           and
           of
           it self
           punish
           those
           Acts
           ,
           therefere
           neither
           can
           it
           either
           command
           or
           prohibit
           them
           ;
           for
           the
           Legislative
           Power
           is
           Compulsive
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           cannot
           be
           Compulsive
           as
           to
           the
           inward
           Act
           ,
           neither
           can
           it
           make
           a
           Law
           in
           reference
           to
           it
           :
        
         
           The
           reason
           of
           this
           Assertion
           is
           ,
           for
           that
           the
           Legislative
           Power
           among
           men
           is
           only
           ordain'd
           for
           preservation
           of
           the
           outward
           Peace
           and
           honesty
           of
           Humane
           Community
           ,
           to
           which
           those
           Acts
           have
           no
           Relation
           which
           are
           conceived
           in
           the
           Mind
           .
           Then
           again
           this
           Power
           springs
           immediately
           from
           Humane
           Community
           it self
           ,
           by
           the
           means
           of
           Natural
           Reason
           .
           Now
           there
           is
           no
           Humane
           Community
           that
           can
           grant
           a
           Power
           immediately
           and
           of
           it self
           ,
           over
           Actions
           meerly
           Internal
           ,
           as
           being
           altogether
           without
           the
           Limits
           of
           its
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           without
           the
           Bounds
           of
           its
           Jurisdiction
           ;
           for
           no
           man
           is
           naturally
           subject
           to
           another
           in
           his
           Soul
           ,
           but
           in
           his
           Body
           .
           Therefore
           said
           a
           Learned
           Schoolman
           ,
           
             He
             is
             in
             an
             Error
             who
             believes
             that
             Servitude
             lays
             hold
             of
             the
             whole
             Man
             ;
             the
             better
             part
             is
             excepted
             .
          
           Our
           Bodies
           are
           lyable
           to
           our
           Superiours
           and
           Governours
           ,
           but
           the
           Mind
           is
           its
           own
           Lord
           and
           Master
           .
        
         
           Then
           again
           ,
           The
           conditions
           of
           Humane
           Laws
           are
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Law
             must
             be
             Honest
             ,
             Just
             ,
             Possible
             ,
             convenient
             to
             Time
             and
             Place
             ,
             and
             conformable
             to
             Religion
             and
             Reason
             .
          
        
         
           The
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           are
           not
           Honest
           ,
           because
           they
           would
           enforce
           men
           to
           abandon
           the
           worship
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           in
           their
           Cons●●ences
           they
           have
           made
           choice
           of
           ,
           as
           believing
           it
           to
           be
           the
           most
           ●●●…e
           and
           conformable
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           to
           submit
           themselves
           〈◊〉
           Ceremonies
           ,
           which
           they
           as
           firmly
           believe
           to
           be
           no
           way
           necessa●●
           for
           their
           Salvation
           ,
           but
           rather
           contrary
           to
           those
           Sentiments
           ●hich
           they
           have
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           Sacred
           Adoration
           .
        
         
         
           They
           are
           not
           just
           ,
           because
           they
           would
           bereave
           men
           of
           that
           Christian
           Liberty
           which
           all
           men
           have
           a
           priviledge
           to
           claim
           ;
           and
           which
           the
           most
           zealous
           promoters
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           would
           take
           most
           heavily
           to
           be
           themselves
           depriv'd
           of
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           Second
           place
           ,
           They
           ought
           to
           command
           those
           things
           which
           may
           be
           justly
           observed
           ;
           but
           these
           Laws
           would
           enforce
           men
           to
           Sin
           against
           the
           Dictates
           of
           their
           Consciences
           ,
           the
           Consequence
           is
           easy
           to
           any
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           The
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           are
           not
           agreeable
           to
           Religion
           ,
           for
           they
           prohibit
           what
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           allow
           ,
           which
           is
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           and
           uphold
           what
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           prohibit
           ,
           which
           is
           Spiritual
           Tyranny
           and
           Dominion
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           The
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           are
           contrary
           to
           Reason
           and
           the
           common
           benefit
           of
           Civil
           Society
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           not
           rational
           that
           People
           should
           be
           Imprison'd
           ,
           Fin'd
           ,
           and
           Banished
           ,
           and
           common
           security
           of
           Liberty
           and
           Property
           be
           infring'd
           even
           to
           the
           loss
           of
           men
           lives
           ,
           and
           the
           depopulation
           of
           a
           Kingdom
           ,
           for
           pretences
           over
           which
           the
           Civil
           Magistrates
           pretends
           not
           to
           have
           any
           Jurisdiction
           .
        
         
           Add
           to
           this
           ,
           That
           to
           rendering
           Laws
           effectual
           ,
           there
           are
           required
           all
           the
           three
           parts
           or
           sorts
           of
           Justice
           .
           First
           ,
           
             Justitia
             Legalis
          
           ,
           whose
           Office
           is
           to
           aim
           at
           the
           Common
           Good
           ,
           and
           consequently
           to
           preserve
           the
           due
           priviledges
           of
           all
           the
           Subjects
           in
           general
           .
           Secondly
           ,
           
             Justitia
             Commutativa
          
           ,
           which
           requires
           that
           the
           Legislator
           command
           no
           more
           then
           lies
           in
           his
           power
           .
           Thirdly
           ,
           Distributive
           Justice
           ,
           which
           takes
           care
           that
           the
           private
           good
           of
           a
           few
           ,
           be
           not
           respected
           more
           then
           the
           public
           good
           of
           the
           whole
           Body
           .
           In
           all
           which
           parts
           of
           Justice
           ,
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           being
           defective
           ,
           it
           follows
           that
           they
           were
           not
           duly
           made
           ,
           consequently
           invalid
           and
           no
           way
           obliging
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           Opinion
           of
           all
           the
           Famous
           Casuists
           ,
           
             Aquinas
             ,
             Sctus
             ,
             Medina
             ,
             Caster
             ,
             Tolinus
             ,
             Panormitanus
             ,
          
           and
           others
           ,
           conformable
           to
           that
           of
           St.
           Austin
           himself
           ,
           
             l.
             19.
             de
             Civit.
             Dei.
             c
             :
             21.
             
             The
             perverse
             Constitutions
             of
             Men
             are
             neither
             to
             be
             accounted
             nor
             to
             be
             said
             to
             be
             Laws
             ;
             when
             that
             is
             only
             to
             be
             accounted
             right
             and
             just
             ,
             which
             flows
             from
             the
             Fountain
             of
             Justice
             .
          
           Now
           that
           it
           is
           the
           intrinsic
           end
           of
           all
           Laws
           duly
           made
           ,
           to
           aim
           at
           the
           Common
           Good
           ,
           is
           plain
           from
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           themselves
           ,
           which
           are
           such
           ,
           that
           tho
           ordain'd
           by
           God
           himself
           to
           his
           own
           Glory
           ,
           yet
           he
           seeks
           therein
           not
           his
           own
           advantage
           ,
           but
           the
           good
           and
           benefit
           of
           men
           .
           In
           like
           manner
           as
           all
           Humane
           
           Laws
           are
           imposed
           upon
           a
           Community
           of
           People
           ,
           so
           ought
           they
           to
           be
           made
           for
           the
           general
           good
           of
           that
           Community
           ,
           otherwise
           they
           are
           irregular
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           against
           all
           Justice
           to
           reduce
           the
           Common
           Good
           to
           Private
           Interest
           ,
           or
           to
           subject
           the
           whole
           to
           the
           part
           for
           the
           parts
           sake
           .
           Another
           reason
           may
           be
           deduc'd
           from
           the
           end
           it self
           ,
           for
           the
           end
           must
           be
           proportionate
           to
           the
           Act
           ,
           its
           beginning
           and
           efficacy
           .
           Now
           the
           Law
           is
           the
           common
           Rule
           of
           Moral
           Operations
           ;
           therefore
           the
           first
           Principle
           of
           Moral
           Operations
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           first
           Principle
           of
           the
           Law
           ;
           but
           the
           end
           or
           happiness
           is
           the
           first
           Principle
           of
           Moral
           Operations
           ;
           for
           in
           Morals
           the
           beginning
           is
           the
           end
           of
           the
           Operations
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Ultimate
           end
           is
           the
           first
           Principle
           of
           such
           Actions
           ;
           but
           the
           Common
           Good
           or
           Felicity
           of
           a
           City
           or
           Kingdom
           is
           the
           Ultimate
           end
           of
           it
           in
           its
           Government
           ,
           therefore
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           first
           beginning
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           Law
           ought
           to
           be
           for
           the
           Common
           Good.
           Now
           it
           is
           apparent
           that
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           were
           made
           only
           for
           the
           particular
           good
           and
           felicity
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           men
           ,
           all
           others
           being
           by
           them
           excluded
           from
           the
           benefit
           of
           their
           native
           Priviledges
           ,
           that
           could
           not
           in
           Conscience
           conform
           to
           the
           Ceremonies
           of
           their
           Worship
           ,
           to
           the
           Ruin
           and
           Vexation
           of
           many
           thousands
           ,
           which
           was
           positively
           against
           the
           Common
           Good
           and
           Felicity
           of
           the
           Nation
           and
           general
           Community
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           divided
           only
           in
           some
           points
           of
           Religion
           ,
           but
           in
           an
           equal
           poise
           of
           Obedience
           and
           Loyalty
           to
           the
           Supream
           Magistrate
           ,
           and
           therefore
           justly
           deserving
           equal
           share
           of
           provision
           by
           the
           Laws
           for
           their
           Security
           and
           Protection
           .
           And
           therefore
           unless
           it
           can
           be
           prov'd
           that
           it
           is
           for
           the
           Common
           Good
           and
           Benefit
           of
           the
           whole
           Nation
           ,
           that
           men
           should
           be
           persecuted
           to
           uphold
           the
           Hierarchy
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           are
           unduly
           made
           ,
           and
           therefore
           as
           of
           no
           force
           ,
           to
           be
           repeal'd
           and
           annul'd
           .
           Therefore
           the
           Intention
           of
           the
           
             Divine
             Laws
          
           might
           have
           taught
           the
           Promoters
           of
           these
           
             Penal
             Statutes
          
           better
           and
           more
           Christian
           Learning
           ;
           for
           therefore
           are
           Prelates
           call'd
           Pastors
           ,
           because
           they
           ought
           to
           lay
           down
           their
           Lives
           for
           the
           good
           of
           the
           Sheep
           ;
           not
           the
           Sheep
           to
           lay
           down
           their
           Lives
           for
           the
           good
           of
           them
           :
           they
           are
           call'd
           Dispensers
           and
           not
           Lords
           ;
           Ministers
           of
           God
           ,
           not
           Primary
           Causes
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           conformable
           to
           the
           Divine
           Intention
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           their
           Power
           :
           God
           principally
           intends
           the
           Common
           Good
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           therefore
           his
           Ministers
           are
           bound
           to
           do
           the
           same
           .
           They
           are
           Tyrants
           ,
           not
           Governours
           in
           the
           
           Church
           ,
           while
           they
           seek
           their
           own
           Support
           and
           not
           the
           Common
           Benefit
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Injustice
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
             experte
             Materiae
          
           ,
           in
           commanding
           those
           things
           which
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           observed
           ,
           this
           Axiom
           from
           thence
           arises
           .
           That
           no
           unjust
           Law
           can
           be
           a
           Law
           ,
           and
           then
           there
           lies
           no
           obligation
           to
           accept
           it
           ,
           or
           to
           observe
           it
           if
           accepted
           ;
           for
           that
           the
           Subjects
           are
           not
           only
           not
           bound
           to
           accept
           it
           ,
           but
           have
           it
           not
           in
           their
           power
           ,
           when
           the
           command
           is
           clearly
           and
           manifestly
           unjust
           :
           as
           when
           men
           are
           commanded
           not
           to
           meet
           above
           such
           a
           number
           under
           such
           a
           penalty
           ,
           for
           the
           Exercise
           of
           their
           Religion
           according
           to
           their
           Consciences
           .
           This
           is
           an
           Evil
           Command
           ,
           because
           it
           debars
           men
           from
           the
           free
           Worship
           of
           God
           ;
           for
           unless
           it
           could
           be
           prov'd
           that
           the
           Religion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           the
           only
           True
           Religion
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           they
           the
           only
           Infallible
           Ministers
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           it
           is
           unjust
           in
           any
           Law
           to
           constrain
           others
           to
           believe
           that
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           as
           Erroneous
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           what
           the
           other
           professes
           :
           For
           tho
           I
           may
           believe
           the
           Liturgy
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           be
           the
           purest
           form
           of
           Supplication
           under
           Heaven
           ,
           yet
           another
           may
           not
           believe
           so
           ,
           neither
           is
           it
           a
           Crime
           in
           him
           to
           believe
           otherwise
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           said
           that
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           are
           defective
           in
           point
           of
           Honesty
           ,
           which
           is
           another
           reason
           why
           they
           are
           invalid
           ,
           and
           therefore
           to
           be
           annull'd
           .
           For
           the
           Immorality
           of
           the
           Precept
           is
           contrary
           to
           God
           himself
           ,
           because
           it
           includes
           a
           Crime
           and
           a
           Transgression
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           therefore
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           observ'd
           as
           no
           way
           obligatory
           :
           seeing
           that
           it
           behoves
           us
           to
           obey
           God
           rather
           then
           Man
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           reason
           these
           Laws
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           observed
           ,
           as
           contradicting
           our
           Obedience
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           subjecting
           us
           to
           the
           Compulsions
           of
           Men.
           
        
         
           In
           the
           last
           place
           ,
           no
           Law
           can
           be
           valid
           beyond
           the
           Intention
           of
           the
           Legislators
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           not
           rational
           to
           think
           that
           those
           Persons
           who
           made
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           upon
           a
           presumption
           of
           danger
           from
           Factious
           and
           Turbulent
           Spirits
           ,
           ever
           intended
           those
           Laws
           sor
           the
           punishment
           of
           those
           that
           liv'd
           peaceably
           and
           obediently
           toward
           the
           Government
           in
           all
           the
           Passive
           Duties
           of
           good
           Loyal
           Subjects
           ,
           for
           that
           had
           been
           to
           make
           Laws
           for
           the
           punishment
           of
           good
           men
           ,
           which
           was
           never
           the
           design
           of
           any
           just
           and
           vertuous
           Legislator
           in
           this
           World.
           Now
           then
           the
           Presumption
           of
           the
           danger
           being
           remov'd
           by
           his
           Majesties
           most
           
             Gracious
             Indulgence
          
           ,
           the
           Foundation
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           are
           remov'd
           ,
           and
           consequently
           
           the
           Obligation
           to
           them
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           imagin'd
           that
           the
           Framers
           of
           these
           Laws
           ever
           meditated
           to
           Establish
           the
           Dominion
           of
           a
           Spiritual
           Oligarchy
           upon
           the
           Ruin
           of
           so
           many
           Families
           of
           Pious
           and
           Religious
           People
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           suspitions
           which
           were
           the
           grounds
           of
           these
           Laws
           being
           vanish'd
           ,
           the
           Laws
           themselves
           are
           to
           be
           laid
           aside
           ,
           as
           altogether
           vain
           and
           frivolous
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           have
           only
           serv'd
           to
           gratify
           the
           Revenge
           and
           Animosity
           of
           their
           promoters
           :
           for
           we
           never
           hear'd
           of
           Traytors
           or
           Factious
           Persons
           ,
           that
           were
           ever
           try'd
           upon
           those
           Laws
           ,
           there
           being
           others
           of
           greater
           force
           to
           take
           hold
           of
           such
           Criminals
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Test
           ,
           it
           appears
           to
           be
           an
           Oath
           continued
           to
           prevent
           the
           sitting
           of
           any
           Commoner
           or
           Peer
           in
           either
           of
           the
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           from
           coming
           into
           his
           Majesties
           Presence
           or
           Court
           ,
           and
           from
           bearing
           any
           Office
           or
           Imployment
           ,
           Military
           or
           Civil
           ,
           in
           any
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Realmes
           of
           England
           or
           
             Ireland
             ,
             &c.
          
           
           And
           they
           that
           are
           to
           take
           this
           Oath
           ,
           are
           thereby
           to
           abjure
           the
           belief
           of
           Transubstantiation
           ,
           Invocation
           or
           Adoration
           of
           Saints
           ,
           and
           the
           Sacrifice
           of
           the
           Mass
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           The
           Learned
           are
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           to
           make
           an
           Oath
           binding
           ,
           it
           is
           requisite
           that
           it
           refers
           to
           things
           Lawful
           ;
           for
           that
           if
           the
           thing
           promised
           upon
           Oath
           be
           forbidden
           either
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           Divine
           Laws
           ,
           or
           Interdicted
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           Men
           ,
           it
           has
           no
           power
           to
           oblige
           the
           Swearer
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           Q●●●●●●n
           will
           be
           whether
           this
           Oath
           does
           not
           positively
           〈…〉
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           by
           enforcing
           a
           Peer
           of
           the
           Realm
           ▪
           or
           any
           other
           free-born
           English-man
           of
           lower
           Degree
           ,
           to
           ac●use
           himself
           ,
           with
           so
           strong
           and
           dangerous
           a
           Temptation
           to
           Perjury
           ,
           where
           the
           Choice
           is
           only
           this
           ,
           Either
           to
           forswear
           their
           Religion
           ,
           or
           lose
           their
           Native
           Priviledges
           and
           Preferments
           ,
           and
           all
           possibility
           of
           advancing
           their
           Fortunes
           .
           A
           piece
           of
           severity
           that
           constrains
           the
           inward
           Belief
           of
           the
           Mind
           ,
           
             which
             God
             the
             searcher
             of
             all
             Hearts
             has
             resorv'd
             to
             himself
             .
          
           That
           this
           is
           an
           Act
           contrary
           to
           the
           known
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           is
           undoubtedly
           true
           ,
           as
           is
           apparent
           from
           the
           great
           Charter
           ,
           and
           several
           Statutes
           of
           the
           Realm
           ;
           therefore
           the
           Test
           has
           no
           power
           to
           oblige
           the
           Swearer
           ,
           and
           consequently
           to
           be
           repeal'd
           as
           Useless
           .
        
         
           That
           it
           is
           against
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           apparent
           from
           hence
           ,
           for
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           more
           strongly
           prohibited
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           
           then
           to
           ground
           a
           Penal
           Prosecution
           upon
           the
           enforc'd
           Oath
           of
           the
           Party
           without
           Witness
           or
           Accuser
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           next
           place
           it
           seems
           a
           hard
           case
           to
           oblige
           the
           Papist
           to
           Swear
           away
           his
           Religion
           ,
           before
           he
           has
           another
           provided
           for
           him
           by
           those
           that
           Impose
           the
           Oath
           .
           For
           certainly
           Transubstantiation
           is
           no
           point
           of
           State
           :
           nor
           does
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           good
           Works
           make
           a
           man
           a
           good
           Subject
           :
           and
           it
           is
           possible
           for
           a
           Papist
           to
           be
           Loyal
           to
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           ,
           and
           yet
           believe
           there
           is
           a
           Purgatory
           .
           All
           these
           are
           no
           Fundamental
           points
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           clearly
           set
           down
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           infer'd
           from
           passages
           and
           glances
           of
           the
           Text
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           Answers
           are
           believ'd
           as
           probable
           by
           the
           Papists
           ,
           as
           the
           Objections
           against
           them
           by
           us
           ;
           and
           therefore
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           they
           should
           be
           so
           cruelly
           Tested
           for
           Doctrines
           that
           are
           but
           either
           obscurely
           reveal'd
           ,
           or
           not
           necessarily
           enjoyn'd
           .
           As
           little
           reason
           is
           there
           to
           enforce
           this
           Test
           upon
           the
           Papists
           ,
           when
           we
           know
           that
           many
           of
           our
           own
           perswasions
           would
           Scruple
           to
           take
           it
           ,
           and
           some
           so
           nice
           as
           absolutely
           to
           refuse
           it
           .
           At
           least
           it
           is
           very
           severe
           to
           compel
           such
           as
           are
           young
           and
           unlearned
           (
           for
           all
           are
           not
           Casuists
           that
           enter
           the
           Parliament
           House
           ,
           or
           have
           Preferment
           in
           the
           Kingdom
           )
           to
           Swear
           that
           such
           an
           Opinion
           or
           Doctrine
           is
           not
           true
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           been
           always
           bred
           up
           to
           from
           their
           Infancy
           ;
           especially
           to
           come
           bluntly
           upon
           them
           without
           any
           preceding
           Instructions
           or
           endeavours
           to
           convince
           their
           Understandings
           ,
           only
           Swear
           or
           else
           depart
           the
           Kings
           Presence
           and
           quit
           your
           Imployment
           .
        
         
           But
           all
           this
           is
           done
           ,
           they
           say
           to
           prevent
           the
           growth
           of
           Popery
           ,
           and
           secure
           the
           Publick
           Peace
           :
           as
           if
           the
           taking
           the
           Test
           would
           avail
           to
           make
           a
           man
           either
           a
           better
           Neighbour
           or
           a
           better
           Subject
           .
           For
           Experience
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           they
           who
           impose
           this
           Test
           ,
           conside
           never
           the
           more
           in
           those
           whom
           they
           have
           frighted
           to
           take
           it
           ;
           and
           tho
           by
           taking
           it
           they
           may
           preserve
           what
           places
           they
           have
           ,
           yet
           is
           it
           not
           in
           it self
           any
           step
           to
           Preferment
           .
           Rather
           indeed
           is
           there
           less
           reason
           to
           conside
           in
           those
           that
           are
           unwillingly
           drawn
           to
           an
           outward
           Complyance
           ,
           then
           in
           those
           that
           Obstinately
           refuse
           to
           be
           obliged
           ;
           since
           there
           can
           be
           no
           greater
           cause
           of
           Hatred
           and
           Resentment
           ,
           then
           the
           remembrance
           of
           their
           being
           compell'd
           publickly
           to
           Swear
           against
           their
           Consciences
           ;
           unless
           their
           Judgments
           are
           really
           chang'd
           ,
           and
           then
           all
           Penalties
           to
           enforce
           them
           are
           superfluous
           .
           Whence
           it
           must
           be
           concluded
           ,
           that
           the
           Tests
           and
           all
           Oaths
           of
           that
           nature
           ,
           are
           always
           either
           absolutely
           
           pernicious
           or
           altogether
           unnecessary
           :
           if
           against
           the
           inward
           Judgment
           ,
           damnable
           ,
           as
           being
           the
           highest
           degree
           of
           Perjury
           ,
           and
           Spiritual
           Murder
           of
           the
           Soul
           ;
           if
           according
           to
           the
           Internal
           Sentiments
           ,
           useless
           .
           More
           then
           this
           ,
           it
           was
           the
           Opinion
           of
           
             Isidore
             ,
             That
             a
             man
             ought
             to
             make
             no
             scruple
             to
             break
             an
             Oath
             that
             would
             bind
             him
             to
             a
             dishonest
             and
             unjust
             Action
             :
             for
             that
             the
             promise
             must
             needs
             be
             wicked
             that
             cannot
             be
             fulfill'd
             ,
             but
             by
             making
             a
             man
             wicked
             .
             And
             what
             can
             make
             a
             man
             more
             wicked
             then
             to
             renounce
             his
             Religion
             for
             private
             Gain
             ?
          
           So
           that
           if
           the
           Test
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           an
           Oath
           that
           would
           bind
           a
           man
           to
           such
           an
           unjust
           Action
           ,
           as
           the
           Renouncing
           his
           Religion
           for
           Worldly
           Honour
           or
           Preferment
           ,
           may
           be
           so
           easily
           broken
           ,
           to
           what
           purpose
           is
           it
           kept
           on
           foot
           ?
           Since
           it
           has
           not
           power
           enough
           to
           bind
           the
           Person
           that
           takes
           it
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           if
           the
           power
           of
           an
           unjust
           Oath
           were
           so
           great
           as
           some
           would
           make
           us
           believe
           ,
           how
           deeply
           are
           they
           Perjur'd
           that
           took
           the
           Covenant
           and
           Engagement
           ,
           yet
           after
           that
           were
           so
           Instrumental
           in
           Restoring
           of
           his
           late
           Majesty
           of
           Blessed
           Memory
           ,
           whose
           Right
           and
           Title
           to
           the
           Crown
           they
           had
           so
           solemnly
           abjur'd
           .
           But
           they
           have
           their
           Absolution
           from
           St.
           Ambrose
           ,
           who
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             That
             some
             Promises
             cannot
             be
             perform'd
             ,
             nor
             some
             others
             kept
             without
             the
             Violation
             of
             our
             Duties
             both
             to
             God
             and
             Man.
             
          
        
         
           Upon
           these
           considerations
           we
           have
           just
           reason
           to
           believe
           it
           was
           ,
           that
           our
           Supream
           Legislator
           and
           Soveraign
           Prince
           set
           forth
           his
           most
           Gracious
           
             Act
             of
             Indulgence
          
           ,
           thereby
           to
           free
           from
           Spiritual
           Bondage
           ,
           the
           Enflav'd
           Consciences
           of
           his
           Suffering
           Subjects
           ,
           Groaning
           under
           the
           Tyranny
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Jurisdiction
           .
           Therein
           truly
           resembling
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           whose
           Vicegerent
           upon
           Earth
           he
           is
           ,
           while
           he
           sheds
           down
           down
           upon
           all
           in
           general
           ,
           the
           Rayes
           of
           his
           Christian
           Compassion
           ,
           and
           spreads
           the
           Cherubim
           Wings
           of
           his
           Mercy
           over
           multitudes
           so
           latety
           tormented
           with
           the
           Unsanctified
           Vexation
           .
        
         
           He
           has
           publicly
           declar'd
           it
           to
           be
           his
           Aim
           to
           fix
           his
           Government
           on
           such
           a
           Foundation
           as
           may
           make
           his
           Subjects
           happy
           in
           the
           Enjoyment
           of
           their
           Religion
           with
           freedom
           of
           Exercise
           ,
           and
           their
           Property
           without
           Invasion
           .
        
         
           Under
           the
           Reign
           of
           such
           a
           Prince
           ,
           whom
           God
           preserve
           ,
           what
           Cause
           or
           Grounds
           can
           there
           be
           for
           Fears
           or
           Jealousies
           ?
           'T
           is
           an
           ill
           sign
           of
           Obedience
           in
           Subjects
           ,
           when
           they
           distrust
           the
           Solemn
           Declarations
           of
           their
           Prince
           :
           And
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           to
           deny
           him
           so
           small
           a
           Recompence
           for
           his
           Excess
           of
           Benignity
           in
           
           his
           
             Royal
             Toleration
          
           ,
           as
           the
           Repeal
           of
           Cruelty
           and
           Injustice
           ;
           Cruelty
           in
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           and
           Injustice
           in
           the
           Test
           ;
           is
           the
           highest
           Ingratitude
           in
           the
           World.
           Certainly
           it
           cannot
           be
           thought
           but
           that
           a
           Monarch
           so
           tender
           of
           the
           Liberties
           and
           Consciences
           of
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           must
           be
           ill
           at
           ease
           till
           he
           has
           removed
           those
           Scourges
           of
           Imposition
           that
           hang
           over
           their
           Heads
           in
           such
           a
           Threatning
           posture
           .
           And
           therefore
           since
           Soveraign
           Consideration
           thinks
           it
           meet
           to
           have
           them
           taken
           away
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           very
           rude
           piece
           of
           Obstinacy
           ,
           to
           be
           Froward
           and
           Peevish
           in
           Opposition
           to
           Soveraign
           Reason
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A54203-e170
           
             This
             was
             finished
             before
             the
             Translation
             of
             Lactantius
             ,
             and
             therefore
             as
             not
             being
             borrowed
             from
             him
             ,
             I
             thought
             fit
             to
             let
             it
             pass
             with
             this
             Advertisement
             .