A PLEA FOR Liberty of Conscience: Grounded Upon The HOLY WORD of GOD, AND The ROYAL WORD of the KING.  
CONTAINING Twelve Weighty Reasons Against the Prosecuting of Protestant-Dissenters FOR MATTERS OF RELIGION Humbly offered to the Consideration of all that are in Authority.  
By JAMES JONES, a Protestant-Dissenter, and now a Prisoner for Nonconformity, in Woodstreet-Comp●….  
The words of King Artaxerxes, when he Granted Liberty of conscience to the Jews:  
I make a Decree, That all they of the People of Israel, which are minded of their own Free Will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.  
And whatsoever is Commanded by the God of Heaven, let it be diligently done for the House of the God of Heaven: for why should there be Wrath against the Realm of the King?  Ezra. 7.13, 23. 
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these Men, and let them alone; for if this Counsel or this Work be of Men, it will come to nought.  
But if to be of God, ye cannot over-throw it, least haply ye he found even to fight against God.  Acts 5.38, 39. 
LONDON: Printed by George Larkin at the Lower End of Broadstreet, next to London-Wall. 1684.   

A PLEA FOR Liberty of Conscience, In Twelve Weighty Reasons.  

I.  
THe First Reason is, Because the Great God of Heaven and Earth, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, hath not appointed any forcible ways or courses to bring men and women to comform to his Worship; God hath not apoointed Death, or Banishment, or Imprisonment, or Loss of Goods, as Punishments for such as do not come to any part of his Divine Service. But God hath been graciously pleased to give his holy Scriptures, consisting of Divine Precepts, wherein is discovered Mans Duty; and Precious Promises, wherein is discovered Gods Mercy to those that forsake wickedness, and walk in the ways of Godliness; and Severe threatenings, wherein God hath discovered his Justice in those Punishments that shall come hereafter upon such as live and die in disobedience: And god hath also graciously favoured the World with such as can Preach the Will of God as it is contained in his holy word, whose work is to inform the judgement, and convince the Conscience, by gentle Inviting, sweet entreating, and spiritual powerful persuading the children of men to be reconciled to God; 2 Cor. 5.20. We pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God. God hath not appointed his Church, nor his Bishops, to stir up any Magistrates or Courts of Justice to grant Writs de Excommunicato Capiendo, to cast Excommunciated Persons into Goals, till they comform to his Church; neither hath God required any Parish Officers to Present such Persons as do not attend his holy Service, that so they may be Prosecuted at the Sessions or Assizes, before the Justices or Judges of any Kingdom under Heaven. But he hath reserved the punishing of such Persons unto himself; which is sometimes done by affliction in this life from his own hand, and will be further done in the day of his Righteous judgement, When Christ shall come in Flaming Fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and then he will also recompense tribulation to the that trouble his Servants, 2 Thes. 1.7.8.   

II.  
The Second Reason is, Because the Kings Majesty hath given his Royal Word and Promise to his Subjects, assuring them they shall enjoy Liberty of Conscience. See his Majesties Declaration from Breda, in April 1660. in these words: We do declare a Liberty to Tender Consciences, and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences in Opinion in matters of Religion, which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom; and that We shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament, as upon mature deliberation shall be offered to Us, for the full granting that Indulgence. Now let this his Majesties Royal Promise be well considered:  
First, That it was Freely done, flowing from his own Princely breast, without being Extorted from him, or Imposed on him, as any condition of his Majesties Restauration.  
Secondly, Consider, That his Majesty did wisely distinguish between differences of Opinion in matters of Religion, and the Disturbing the Peace of the Kingdom, and thereby did intimate his knowledge that though many of his Subjects by reason of Tenderness of Conscience could not comform to that which might be the Established Worship in his Kingdom, yet they might be such good Subjects as not to disturb the Peace of his Kingdom. And therefore let all sorts of the Kings Subjects, whether men of low or high degree, take heed, that they do not disgrace or affront this his Majesties Royal Promise, by judging or Censuring such of the Kings Protestant Subjects, against whom there is nothing but difference in matters of Religion, to be thereby Disturbers of the Peace of the Kingdom.  
Thirdly, Consider that his Majesty did in his Wisdom judge it to be a mutual happiness for himself, as a King, and for his People, as Subjects, that there should be Liberty of Conscience.  
Fourthly, Consider that the King in his Declaration, dated October 25. 1660. Saith thus: in p. 18. In a word, We do again renew what We have formerly said in Our Declaration from Breda, for the Liberty of Tender Consciences; That no man shall be disquieted or called in question for Differences in Opinion in matters of Religion, which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom; and if any have been disturbed in that kind since Our Arrival here, it hath not Proceeded from any Direction of Ours. From which Words of his Majesty, it will not be amiss, by the Way, to observe, That sometimes his Majesties Subjects may be disturbed and troubled upon the score of Conscience, without his Majesties Direction; and there is good Cause to believe that his Majesty doth not know of the tenth part of the Distresses and Miseries that his peaceable Subjects do now labour under in many parts of his Kingdom, only for Conscience sake, in those things that are the matters of their God.  
Fifthly, Consider, That at the Opening of the Parliament on the Eighth day of May, 1661. His Majesty Was pleased to Express himself thus in his Speech to both Houses of Parliament, p. 1. I do value myself much upon keeping My Word, upon making good what soever I promise to My Subjects. Which Words of his Majesty, the Lord chancellor in his Speech at the same time, took particular and special notice of, repeating them again thus: He( meaning his Majesty)  told you but now that He valves Himself much upon keeping His word, upon performing all that He promiseth to His People.  
Sixthly, Consider, That his Majesty in his Speech to both Houses of Parliament the Eighth of July, 1661. did with pleasure Repeat this his Royal Promise, thus: It is to put myself in mind, as well as you, that I,( I think so often at I come to you) mention to you my Declaration from Bread; and let me put you in mind of another Declaration, published by yourselves about the same time, and which I am persuaded, made mine the more effectual, an honest, generous, Christian Declaraction, signed by the most Eminent Persons, that had been the most Eminent Suffers; in which you renounced all former Animosities, and memory of former Unkindnesses; And my Lords and Gentlemen, Let it be in no mans power to charge Me or You, with the breach of Our Words or Promises, which can never be a good Ingredient for Our future Security.  
Sevently, Consider, That His Majesty in his Declaration of December 26. 1662. did account himself Maliciously scandalised by some who did venemously insinuate, That though he had made such Solemn Promises of Liberty for Tender Consciences, yet he had added straighter setters then ever. See His Majesties own words in the said Declaration, page. 3. And in the 7th page. of the same Declaration, His Majesty doth again repeat his Promise from Breda, with great dislike of those that did maliciously insinuate as if he were not for the performance thereof: Pray Consider the following words of His Majesty in that Declaration: Concerning the Non-performance of Our Promises, We well remember the very words from Breda, viz. We do declare a Liberty to Tender Consciences, and that no man shall be dis1uieted or called in question for Differences in Opinion in matters of Religion, which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom; and that We shall be ready to Consent to such an Act of Parliament as upon mature deliberation shall be offered to Us, for the full granting that Indulgence. We remember well the Confirmations We have made of them since upon several Occasions in Parliament; and as all these things are still fresh in Our Memory, so are We STILL FIRM in the Resolution of PERFORMING THEM TO THE FULL.  
And in page. the Eighth, His Majesty doth in his Princely Wisdom Express himself thus: We do conceive ourselves so far Engaged, both in Honour, and in what We owe to the Peace of our Dominions, which We profess. We can never think secure, whilst there shall be a colour left to the Malicious and Disaffected to inflame the minds of so many multitudes upon the score of Conscience, with despair of ever obtaining any effect of Our Promises for their Ease. Now from this his Majesties Declaration, let these four things be soberly considered:  

1. His Majesties well remembering his Promise for Liberty of Conscience.  
2. His Majesties being highly offended that any Person should insinuate as if be did not intend the performance thereof.  
3. Consider His Majesties Firm Resolution to perform his Promise to the full.  
4. Consider that His Majesty would not have His Subjects upon the score of conscience let fall their hopes, and so fall into despair of obtaining the Effects of this his Promise, viz. Liberty of Conscience, for their Ease. And therefore I humbly hope that the mentioning of the former Particulars, as a Reason or Argument for Liberty of Conscience, will not be offensive to His Majesty, or any that are in Authority, forasmuch as there is yet cause( from His Majesties own words) to hope for the benefit of what He hath so often promised.   
Object. But some will be ready to Object and Say. That some of the Dissenters have disturbed the Peace of the Kingdom, since His Majesty made this Promise.  
Answ. I answer, Those that have, or those that may be guilty of such Crimes, let them suffer according to their Crimes: But it would be highly unreasonable to deny all those that are ot Disturbers of the Peace, to have the benefit of the Kings Royal Promise; since His Majesty doth plainly declare that all his Peaceable Subjects shall enjoy the benefit of His Promise, viz. Liberty of Conscience, without any disquieiting or disturbance. And besides this, His Majesty hath declared a Resolution to distinguish between the Innocent and the Guilty: I pray consider His Majesties own words to both Houses of Parliament, in his Speech July 8. 1661. Let Us look forward, and not backward; and never think of what is past, Except men put Us in mind of it, by Repeating Faults We had forgot; and then let Us remember NO MORE then what Concerns THOSE VERY PERSONS.   

III.  
The Third Reason for Liberty of Conscience, is, Because, the Prosecuting of Protestant Dissenters for Matters of Conscience, is a great disquieting of the minds of great multitudes of his Majesties good Subjects, and a great hindrance to the Trade of the Kingdom, the Dissenters being a great part of the Trading people of the Kingdom, considered as Merchants and Shopkeepers, in this great City; and Clothiers, Farmers, and many other tradesman in the Country, by which many thousands of the Kings poor Subjects are maintained. And this very thing His Majesty was pleased to take into His Princely Consideration, when he put forth his Indulging Declaration, by the Advice of his Privy Council, in March 1672. after a violent Prosecution of that Act against Conventicles, in these very words: But it being evident by the sad Experience of twelve years, that htere is very little Fruit of all those forcible Courses; We think ourself obliged to make use of that supreme Power in Ecclesiastical matters, which is not only inherent in Us, but hath been declared and recognised to be so, by several Statutes and Acts of Parliament; and therefore We do now accordingly issue this Our Declaration, as well for the quieting of the minds of Our God Subjects, in these Points, for Inviting of Strangers in this Conjuncture to come and live under Us, and for the better encouragement of all to a cheerful following of their Trade and Callings; from whence We hope by the Blessing of god to have many good and happy Advantages to Our Government.   

IV.  
The Fourth Reason is, Because the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, since these His Majesties Declarations, have upon mature deliberation considered the ill consequences of Prosecuting the Protestant Dissenters by the Penal Laws, and have shewed their willingness to a toleration in and for matters of Conscience.   

V.  
The Fifth Reason is, Because the French Protestants( who are the Dissenters from the Established Worship of that Kingdom) are graciously and kindly received and succoured both by the King and his People: and the French King is highly blamed by English Protestants for Persecuting his Peaceable Subjects; and therefore there is much more reason that Protestants should not Prosecute one another, as it is this day; to the very great damage of many good Families, only for their Conscience in matters of Religion; For this is to do the same things in England, that by England are condemned in France. Therefore let the words of the Apostle Paul be well considered, Rom. 2.1, 3. thou art inexcusable O man, whoever thou art, that judgest: For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest, dost the same things: And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt Escape the Judgement of God?   

VI.  
The Sixth Reason is, Because there is a great and good Agreement between the comforming and Nonconforming Protestants, in the chief things of the Protestnat Religion: As for instance; 1. Both Parties believe in the holy Trinity, viz. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; 2. That Jesus Christ is very God, and very man, and the only Saviour of Sinners: 3. That Salvation doth depend upon the miraculous Birth, the holy Life, the painful Death, the powerful Resurrection, the joyful Ascention, the Constant Intercession, and the glorious Second coming of Jesus Christ. 4. Both Parties do Profess that the Worship of God ought to be according to the holy Scriptures, & not according to the Inventions of any sort of Mankind. 5. Both Parties do deny praying to Angels and deceased Saints, & both do also deny a Purgatory. 6. Both Parties do believe and profess that there is a Heaven of Everlasting Joy for the Godly, and a Hell of Eternal Woe for the Wicked. 7. The Protestant Dissenters do highly approve of, and are zealous for such a Church as is described in the 19th Article of the church of England; which is as follows, viz. The Visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of Faithful Men, in the which the Pure Word of God is Preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered, according to Christs Ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.  
Now let these few things be Considered:  

1. That the Protestant Dissenters are conscientiously Careful to maintain Spiritual Communion in matters of Religion, with the most Faithful People; viz. Such as have true Faith in Christ, and that labour to live according to the faithful Word of Christ, being thereby taught to live Soberly and Godly in this Present Evil World, hating Profaneness, viz. Swearing, Cursing, Drunkenness, Whoring, and all other kind of Debauchery.  
2. Consider, That they cannot in Conscience keep up and maintain a holy Communion in Christs holy Ordinances with such unholy Persons, because such cannot be fairly Counted the Congregation of faithful People, who are so unfaithful to God, and unto their own Souls, and to the Protestant Religion, though Professed by them.  
3. Consider, That the pure Word of God is powerfully Preached in the Assemblies of Protestant Dissenters, to the Conversion and Reformation of many of His Majesties Subjects; and the Lords Supper is purely and peaceably ministered among them, according to the best of their Understandings in the Word of God, wherein they keep up a holy Remembrance of Christs Death, for the Salvation of their Souls: And therefore they ought not to be accounted Schifmaticks and Sinful Separatists, but they ought to be owned as Furtherers and Promoters of the Purity of the Protestant Religion: thought instead thereof, they are Prosecuted as Seditious and Riotious Persons.    

VII.  
The Seventh Reason is, Because all sorts of Persons do desire Liberty of Conscience as a great Good for themselves; Even those that are for imposing upon, and distressing of Others, would not be so dealt with themselves; but would account it hard measure, yea, Cruelty, to be forced to forbear such things in Religion, or perform such things in Religion, as are against their Consciences, or else to suffer in their Purses or Persons; as for instance, The Church Protestants would deem it a great Persecution if they should be punished for not turning Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, or Quakers: And why then should they take pleasure in punishing of, and so strive to force any of the others to be of their minds, and comform to their manners of Worship? Let such rather observe the Words of Christ, Mat. 7.12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.   

VIII.  
The Eighth Reason is, Because the using of Outward Compulsion in matters of Conscience, is the ready Way to make men Hypocrites; for if Men comform to any way of Worship unwillingly, they cannot serve God acceptably, though the Matter and Form of Worship be never so Right because the Heart of the Worshipper is not Right for if it were not for Compulsion, he would not be in such a practise or Profe●… and therefore he that conforms by Compulsion to 〈…〉 of being 〈…〉 unto Man, but not unto God. 〈…〉 shall be Performed sincerely and willingly, 〈…〉 8.9.   

IX.  
The Ninth Reason is, 〈…〉 Compulsion in matters of Conscience, is a breach of the good Rules of ●… manity, and common Civility among all sorts of men, which is carefully 〈…〉 smaller matters, as for instance: Such is the Civility of men towards each other, that they abl●… force that Meat or Drink down the Throats of 〈…〉 which will not agree with their Bodies but do freely and friendly say to each other. Pray take that which doth best agree with you, and is most for the Health of your Bod●…. Now therefore for men to be so Civil to one another in Temporal things respecting the Mortal Body, and to be so uncivil in Spiritual things, respecting the immortal Soul, surely it may without Breach of Charity be judged a great reach of Humanity, and Christianity also.   

X.  
The Tenth Reason is, Because the Church 〈…〉 in England have been ●… rely distressed by hot Persecutions 〈…〉 Bloody Papists in the 〈…〉 for not comform 〈…〉 Worship 〈…〉 and there 〈…〉 not to persecute 〈…〉 because they 〈…〉 Persecuted themselves.   

XI.  
The Eleventh Reason is Because both the Church 〈…〉 the Dissenters are all in a like danger of the Popish Party, who are waiting for, and long to have the Government of England in their hands,( which God of his Infinite Mercy prevent) because they will make no difference between any sort of Protestants who are resolved to maintain their Protestant Principles and Protestant Practices; but they shall hang together, and burn together, as a Company of schismatics and heretics.   

XII.  
The Twelfth Reason is, Because the Protestant-Dissenters do not belong to or own any foreign Jurisdiction, but do abhor, detest, and protest against all foreign Power, and Jurisdiction over the King, Kingdom, or any of the Kings Subjects; neither are they covetous of any preferment either in Church or State, but desire only to live a Peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty, under Authority, as Gods Word doth direct. And as this hath been the practise of the Generality of the Protestant-Dissenters of this Kingdom; So that is may still continue, 〈◇〉 be the Earnest Pra●… and constant Endeavour of  
His Majesties Loyal( though Suffering) Subject, James Jones.    

Entred According to Order.  
FINIS.