A BRIEF TESTIMONY FOR RELIGION: SHOWING That all PENAL LAWS, Force and Violence against any for Matters of mere Religion and Conscience, are Inconsistent with the DOCTRINES and PRECEPTS of Jesus Christ. PRESENTED To the Consideration of all, but more Especially those that may be chosen Members of Parliament, that they may see cause to concur with the King's Gracious Declaration for Liberty of Conscience. By a Lover of the King and his Country, and a Hater of no Man because of his Opinion.  
WILLIAM SHOWN.  
Printed in the Year, 1688.   

A Brief Testimony for Religion, showing that all Penal Laws, Force and Violence against any for Matters of mere Religion and Conscience, are inconsistent with the Doctrines and Precepts of Christ Jesus, etc.  
THE Principle of Religion, is Inward, Spiritual and Divine, not contained in Books, nor taught by the Precepts of Men, being before Books, and the Precepts of Men were inwented, and is in itself Sacred, Pure and Undefiled; Grounded, Planted and Placed in the Heart of Mankind, by the Sacred, Pure, Undefiled God, who hath given unto all Life, Breath and Being: And in all Nations upon the Face of the Earth, all People therein, who fear God, and worketh Righteousness are accepted by him; being in the Exercise of true Religion, doing Justly, loving Mercy, and walking uprightly with God.  
Now tho' God hath sown this Seed, laid this Foundation of Equity, Justice, Righteousness, Mercy and Fear towards him, in the Hearts of all Men; yet they are greatly Degenerated therefrom; those plants of his own Right-hand planting, are greatly overgrown with that which is quite contrary, viz. with the Weeds and Plants of Iniquity, Injustice, unrighteousness, Cruelty, Violence, Disobedience, Rebellion against God, and one another; so that almost the whole World of Mankind is now become Enemies to God, Nature and their own selves, in all Nations, Countries, and Kingdoms, according to the degree of their Degeneration from the Law, Light, Love, Dread and Fear of the Almighty God, which he at first Placed, Planted, and Engraved in the Heart of Mankind.  
Some in most Nations (from the effect of what still remains) have been made sensible of their Loss, Nakedness and Degeneration from the likeness and Image of God, viz. Uprightness, Holiness, Equity, Justice, and Mercy, etc. And they have been greatly concerned in their Thoughts, Wills, and fallen understandings, how to gain the same again, and have therein invented and set up, among Jews, Turks, and Indians, as in Christendom, various sorts and manners of Worships, and Ceremonies of Religion (so called) thinking thereby to please God, profit themselves and others, by teaching and compelling (if they have Power) the observance thereof, though in so doing they can go no further than Adam and Cain. did, hid and make a Covering with fig-leaves, offer a Sacrifice with one hand, and Murder with the other, and are no more accepted therein than they were; and the infallible reason and cause of it is, because, all the Righteousness, and Wickedness, proceeding from Mankind in this Degenerate State, are both evil in the sight of God.  
Mankind through his Fall and Degeneration, is so Polluted, so Defiled, so Corrupted, with the stinking Leprosy of Sin, that whatever he puts his hand to in things relating to Religion, and the service of God, is abomintion in his sight; yea, the very Prayers of the Wicked are sin: and out of this Estate he cannot help himself, he cannot Purge nor Purify himself, nor redeem, nor deliver himself, by all his working, willing, and running, the Serpent is too Strong, too powerful, too Subtle, and cunning for all Mankind in this Estate, without a Saviour, without a Redeemer, without a Restorer, and Deliverer all Perish, etc.  
Therefore God in his infinite Love and Kindness, did promise, and hath performed, hath given, and laid help upon one that is mighty to Save, to Redeem, to Purge, Purify, and Restore lost Man, Defiled, Corrupted, Captivated Man into the Image of God again, into Righteousness, Purity, and Holiness again, and the first name this Redeemer and Saviour hath in the Holy Scriptures, is, the Seed of the Woman, and his first work is, to bruise the head of the Serpent.  
Now this promised seed, this precious gift of God, hath many other names throughout the Holy Scriptures; and hath many other works to do, in and for Mankind, the Serpent's head must not only be bruised by him, but he and all his works destroyed and cast out of the heart of Mankind. And this was and is the blessed end of his coming and appearing, even to destroy the Devil and all his Works, finish sin and bring in everlasting Righteousness in the room thereof: Even into the heart and mind of Mankind, which is God's Throne though the Serpent the Devil hath usurped it, my desire is, that all may come to enjoy that blessed Estate through Jesus Christ the Saviour.  
Which Jesus Christ the Saviour is the Author and Founder of the Christian Religion in the Purity and Power of it; which Religion excels all other Religions upon the Face of the Earth, who are Impure, Imperfect, and Weak, made up of men's Inventions, Precepts, and Traditions, Carnal Ordinances, Worldly Rudiments, and Beggarly Elements; which had a beginning and must have an end, together with all Hatred and Persecution about them, for it hath been, and i● about these things, that those who lived in and under them, have made Laws to force, and compel observance and Conformity thereto, for nothing of that fort or nature ever did, or can proceed from the Christian Religion, in the Purity and Power of it: It's Fundamental Principles, Precepts, Doctrines and Examples are quite the contrary. Love your Enemies, Bless them that Curse you, Do good to them that hate you, Pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute your: As you would that Men should do unto you, Do so likewise unto them. Be like your Heavenly Father, who maketh his Sun to shine on the Evil, and on the good, and sendeth Rain on the Just, and on the : Love one another, as I have loved you, love ye also one another: By this shall all Men know, that you are my Disciples, if you have love to one another. Do good to all, etc. This is the Tenure of the Gospel of Christ: Peace on Earth, and good will to Men. And they only were and are Disciples indeed, who did and do observe those divine Precepts and Commands of Christ. And all that profess love to him, and a knowledge of him, and keepeth not his Commandments, are Liars, and the Truth is not in them, let them profess what they will.  
There is no ground nor foundation for Sangunary Laws, nor for any sort of Persecution, Violence or Cruelty about Religion, in the lovely, meek, quiet, and innocent Spirit of Christianity, nor in the Precepts, Principles, and Discipline of it, they have certainly arose in Christendom from another Spirit, that hath assumed the Name, and Usurped the Throne of God, the Heart and mind of Man, which hath come to pass, through the working of the Mystery of Iniquity, Serpent, and Antichrist, under the Name of God Almighty and Christianity; the Nature thereof being wanting in all that have been concerned therein.  
For according to the Testimony and Phrase of Holy Scripture, and the experience of Thousands in this Age, Men have been, are, and may be so intoxicated in their Minds, and understandings, so mistaken, and Captivatedunder that Monster fault Opinion; so corrupted by Tradition, and Superstitious Education, etc. that they have been, and are said to be made bewitched given up to believe strong Delusions, made drunk with the Wine of Fornication, which by the Whore (the false Church) is held forth in a golden Cup to all Nations, according to that not able Vision of the Divine Apostle St. John, in his Revelation: read the 17th. Chapter, in a Measure of the same Divine Spirit of Revelation, or else you will mistake, as all Sectarians hath done, etc.  
Now seeing People may be Spiritually Drunk, mad, bewitched, deceived, mistaken, blind, and intoxicated so far, as to take Truth for Error, and Error for Truth, good for Evil, and Evil for good, Light for Darkness, and Darkness for Light, true Religion for false, and false for true, etc. And proceed in their Conversation and do accordingly, towards their Neighbours and Countrymen, when they have power and opportunity in their Hand.  
It's therefore wisdom to know these distempered People, and what means and medicine is to be used towards such people, and how far the Christian Magistrate and Lawmaker, are concerned about such things.  
〈◊〉 There are two Infallible Signs that people are in the State above: first when they are prone to or put forward in a Blind Zeal, to hate, or hurt their Neighbours, or Countrymen, because they are not of the same opinion in matters of Religion; nor do not Worship after the same manner, or in the same form and fashion as they do.  
2ly. When they make it matter of conscience and duty to deal with such as are not of their Church and way, as with Weeds and Vermine, and think they do God good Service therein. These are two infallible Signs, that People are Religiously mad and mistaken.  
Paul, when a Persecutor (though by the Authority of the wisest men, greatest Scholars, highest prosessors of Religion, chief Priest, etc.) was one of the Religious mad men, and they were no better that employed him, and gave him Commission for the same: Notwithstanding they thought and believed otherwise; saying, God was their Father, and that they were Abraham's Children, though at that very time they were doing the Works of the Devil, and persecuting the Seed, and true Children of God and Abraham; yet knew not themselves, what they did, nor what they were, while they were breathing out threaten, slaughter, and Death punishing in every Synagogue (or Parish) and compelling to Blaspheme; being as Paul said of himself (before King Agrippa) exceeding mad against the poor Christians, persecuting them even unto strange Cities: all this in his mad Zeal and Ignorance, he with those of his (Religion or rather) opinion, thought was very well done.  
So as hath been said, its wisdom to know these distempered people, which if any lack, let them ask it of God, for it is his own Gift, that makes known persons and things as they are, in the Ground and Nature, and enables to give them Names according thereto and to judge righteously, and not by appearance, and without this gift of God, no man can know himself, nor judge his Brother aright.  
If Education, Tradition, Academical Learning, or a profession and imitation of that Religion, which God himself commanded, could teach a Man the knowledge of God, or himself, those Jews, Doctors and Rabbis would have had it: none in those Ages exceeding them in those things; yet all they attained to thereby, was just as if we should see a Man believe and declare himself to be the Son of some great Prince, or that some mighty Monarch was his Father, who had given him Power and Authority as his Vicegerent, to correct, order, amend and govern, in his Kingdom, when he is no other than the Son of a Vile Butchery Executioner, and is assisting his Father in his filthy Drudgery; for Christ told them they were of their Father the Devil, and his Works they did, even at that very instance, when they believed and declared themselves to be the Children of God and Abraham, etc.  
Now those that are, and would be doing the same sort of work; let their pretence be what it will, they are in the same condition; though they may not be sensible thereof, nor see themselves to be such; for why is a Man said to be mad Spiritually, is it not because the God of this World (that lies in wickedness) hath blinded the Eye of his mind, darkened and veiled his Understanding and Judgement, that he cannot see, understand, nor judge aright of the things of God, and yet believes and persuades himself he can, and by his will and power would force, and compel others to believe the same, and to receive his understanding and judgement therein, under pains and penalties, etc. This is the Nature and Property of a blind mad Zealot.  
Most in Christendom are ready to censure Paul and the Jews, for their rage and madness, cruelty and violence against Christ and his harmless Disciples, and also the Gentiles for their Brutish Inhumanity against the primitive Christians, in the Ten Persecutions, though they have been and are doing the same work, even against those that profess the same Name together with them, and yet justify themselves therein, and think they do God good Service thereby, which is an evident Token they are of the same sort, for Persecutors were always blind.  
And Persecutions under the Name of Christ and Christianity, and under pretence of the Propagating and preserving the Christian Religion, are far worse, and under a greater degree of madness, blindness, and ignorance, than either Jews or Heathen: they are not only blind and mad, but Drunk also, Infatuated, Stupefied, Intoxicated, and less  than all other Persecutors upon the Face of the Earth, because they do profess and account themselves to be Disciples of that Immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus, who was always loving, meek, gentle, tender, and kind to all mankind, going up and down, doing good, never harming any, laying down his life for his Enemies, and praying for them, and gave forth those divine Heavenly Precepts and Commandments before mentioned, for all his Disciples and Followers to observe, keep and obey. Now wherever people are found making profession of Christ Jesus and his Religion, and doing those things which are not only Repugnant to it, but inconsistent with it: certainly such are in a farther degree of blindness and madness, and more inexcusable, than either Jew or Heathen, for they had no such Heavenly example, nor no such divine Precepts and Commandments in their Religion, but rather the contrary.  
Therefore a Christian Persecutor (if such a thing could be) would be as a Monster in Nature; that which is in its self most mild, loving, gentle, harmless and innocent, would become the most wild, cruel, ravenous and devouring, if this could be, not only Nature, but Religion itself would be turned quite out of course. Lilies would tear the Thorns, and Lambs devour the Wolves, and the Sheep prey upon the Tigers, Bears and Lions, and the innocent Dove would devour the Birds of prey.  
But these things cannot be; therefore it may certainly be concluded, and infallibly believed, that whoever is found promoting or acting Cruelty or Violence, against any under the name and profession of the Christian Religion, are Wolves in Sheep's clothing, painted Sepulchers, and professing Hypocrites; neither truly loving God nor their Neighbour, which Love is the Foundation of true Religion, and by their works and do (not by their words) they may be, and are known.  
Now when these poor deceived distempered people are known, evidently by the Signs of their disease aforementioned, what course is to be taken with them, what means and medicine doth Humanity and Christianity call for? And how far is the Christian Magistrate and Lawmakers, concerned about such things?  
Ans. First, they are greatly to be pitied, because the Cause of their distempers generally is Hereditary, they are born of Jews, Turks or Mahometans, Infidels or Christians, and are trained up, and educated in their Various ways and worships, beliefs and opinions about Religion, by their Parents and Tutors; so that they are Tinctured, if not possessed with Hereditary traditional Religion, or the Opinions of their Forefathers, before they know they are men, and become so bound with the Chains of Tradition, Custom and Opinion, in the things relating to Religion, that they give up their Wills, Judgement, Understanding, Conscience, and all for the forced Maintenance and Propagation thereof, though it be to their own hurt, and the ruin of others, not knowing nor rightly understanding what they do, being captivated as above, and the cause in the beginning chief from others.  
Therefore even as Humanity teacheth to pity and take care of poor blind people, and such who are under a great Lunary, or Distraction naturally as to provide for, and prevent their hurting themselves and others; so it leadeth to do the same for those that are blinded and distracted, through Tradition, Custom, Superstitious Education, and opinion: and Christianity teacheth a farther Lesson, even to pray for them; and with all mildness, gentleness, tenderness and love, to endeavour their better information, in order to their deliverance and redemption from under those sinful customs and false opinions, whose Tyranny and oppression makes not only Fools, but wise men mad.  
And for so doing, Christ himself hath left Example, not only in his divine Precepts and Commandments before mentioned, but in his own person, when he prayed for those great professing people the Jews, whom he also wept over, and expressed as much tenderness towards them, as a Hen hath towards her Chicken; and when they were upon the point of Executing their utmost of envy, rage, blindness and madness upon him, he said, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do; and his Apostle Paul said, if they had known him, they would not have Crucified the Lord of Glory: this he knew to be true by woeful experience himself, being blind and ignorant, while a mad zealous Persecutor: ignorance and envy hath been, and is the cause of all violence against the Righteous, and about Religion throughout all former Ages, and let the pretence be what it will, it hath no other foundation in this Age.  
All the Inventors of Creeds, Articles of Faith, Mass-books, Common-prayer-books, Directories, and other Prescribers of set forms of worship in whole Christendom have been prone to Curse persecution against such as comply not therewith: especially when any one of them becomes National, and are possessed of great Revenues for the maintenance of the same; that is as Oil to the Flame that hath devoured many, and disturbed the whole Christian World.  
Therefore it concerns the Christian Magistrates, and Lawmakers, to take care that none of those people have power and opportunity to force and compel under corporal pains and penalties, the observation of their inventions and prescriptions; for such things proceeds not from true Religion, but from the opinion and imagination about it, and as hath been said, is inconsistent with it.  
Now the great men of this Island of Great Britain, who are and may be concerned to make and execute Laws, may in the first place see it absolutely needful to abrogate and demolish all such Laws about Religion, as have proceeded from people in the State above: as all Laws to banish, hang, burn, Stigmatize, whip and imprison the Bodies of people for matters of mere Religion and Conscience are; and to make and establish such Laws in the room thereof, as may prevent any sort, or Sect of people to hurt, rifle and spoil their Neighbours and Countrymen, because they may disser in their understanding and practice in matters of worship and religion, and that may command and enjoin morality and good Neighbourhood, among men of different persuasions about forms of worship, etc. herein the Nation would be made happy, even in your imitating the great God of Love, Peace and Unity, in the midst of all variety, and the light of his countenance would shine in you, and upon you.  
And now you have a Season for so doing: The King in his late tender gracious Declaration, hath outdone all the Princes of Christendom, and set them a glorious example, by following which they may make themselves and all their people happy: He is a Prince of great observation and experience, and hath thereby made himself a Throne in the Hearts and affections of his people: And if you do but cast an impartial Eye void of prejudice and opinion you will find none throughout the Nation, but such who are captivated thereby, and have been, and would be again persecutors about the mode and manner of Religion, and Church Ceremonies (it being the Nature of every Sect, private Spirit and opinion, to use force and compulsion when able) because false opinion, blind Zeal, and traditional Faith, is some of the Wine, with which the Whore's cup is filled, whereby those that drink freely thereof, supposing it to be the Wine of the Kingdom, are made Drunk, intoxicated and mad therewith, as hath been said, you will find none but such that are for the continuation of such Laws, as would spoil men of their lives, liberties, and Estates in this World, about the things of another, about matters of mere Religion and Conscience, about humane inventions, carnal ordinances, and circumstances of Religion and Worship, to the great shame and scandal of Christian Religion, which never came into the World at that Door; neither did it ever use or prevail by such means, nor ever will; being certainly true, that all that are found in that way and work, under the profession of Christianity, they are in the Degeneration from the Nature thereof, and they are but a Sect, though they may call themselves Universal or National Church; have a care of Jealousies, and false Suggestions; and take heed of making conclusions, that the design of the King's Declaration, is only to introduce the Roman Catholic Sect; herein you may abuse the best of Kings, for though he hath declared himself to be of that persuasion, as to the manner of worship, etc. yet it is most apparent, that his understanding is so far divinely illuminated, that he owns it not in the worst parts of it, viz. force, violence and persecution, declaration.  
We cannot but hearty wish, as it will eafily be believed that all the people of our Dominions were Members of the Catholic Church, yet we humbly thank Almighty God it is, and hath of a long time been our constant sense and opinion (which upon divers occasions we have declared) that Conscience ought not to be constrained, nor People forced in matters of mere Religion. It has even been contrary to our inclination, as we think it is to the interest of Government, which it destroys by spoiling Trade, Depopulating Countries, and discouraging Strangers, and finally that it never obtained the end, for which it was employed, etc.  
Here is as much said in so many words, as can well be, to signify that they proceed from a profound Judgement, a true and constant Sense, a right opinion, great reason, a perfect sight of the true interest of Government, and all confirmed by observation and experience, with thanks to Almighty God for the same.  
Now for any to surmise and imagine, that there is a Snake in this fair Grass, and that there is some grand evil design to be ushered in thereby, is great Ingratitude, the effect of bad Jealousy, and the Fruit of some fearful Sect, that cannot live at ease while their Neighbours are free from trouble.  
Indeed if the King acted without any of those excellent qualifications before mentioned, barely as a Roman Catholic, moving only by the Dictates of that Church, you and the Nation might have ground to fear, that there is an Adder in the Grass, which is much more dangerous than a Snake, and that it is with design not only to gain equal liberty for the Roman Catholics, but also to make them capable in time to suppress all others, as the Nature of that Sect is with cruelty and violence, as this and many Nations can witness; but to think that this is the design of the King, is the worst interpretation that malice and envy can put upon the words and do of so great and just a Prince, whom none can justly charge with playing the Hypocrite, and dissembling with God and Man, as such thoughts would insinuate, and he hath been a Sufferer for Conscience sake himself, while a Subject (though of the greatest Rank) and when in the greatest power, who can say that ever he moved or put forward the making or executing those Penal Laws about Religion, by which many men's lives, Liberties and Estates, have been destroyed in this Nation.  
Let all such thoughts and jealousies be laid aside, and with the King give humble thanks to Almighty God, that he hath placed such a one upon the Throne, whose Heart he hath inclined to imitate his divine Majesty in being kind, merciful and just to all, without respect to Persons, or Opinions, and be ready to concur with him in his just design, and Christian intentions of abolishing all Penal Laws, about that which is accounted Religion, but indeed is more properly Opinion, for the Christian Religion, and Penal Laws to enforce it, were always inconsistent, as hath been hinted; 'tis Opinion and not pure Religion that hath devised, and set up Penal Laws to defend and propagate it.  
The Christian Religion came into the World without the approbation, consent, or assistance of the great Scholars, Doctors and Rabbis, and other great men of the World, they were all disturbed at the appearance of Christ the Author of it, and consulted how to destroy him, and the highest professors of God and Religion in that Age, studied and sought all ways and means how to suppress and prevent the setting up and spreading the Christian Religion, but it being founded in the Truth in the inward parts, which God loves it grew and prevailed in the Hearts of people, amidst all opposition working powerfully in the Minds, Hearts, and understandings of Jews, Greeks, Barbarians, Schithyans, bond and free, making a real chaing in the inward man, not in the opinion or notion of things only, but they were renewed in the Spirit of their minds, their Hearts were purified, consciences rectified, their understandings illuminated, and their Conversations was such as became the Gospel of Christ, Brotherly love, Kindness, patience, long Suffering with Innocency, and other Fruits of the Spirit abounded among them; this was their State when Laws and Edicts of Men were against them, who had neither Sword, nor Penal Laws on their side; they were far degenerated from the Nature, though not from the Name Christian, when they called to the civil Magistrate for Penal Laws, they were then run into Sects, Sides and Opinions, and into disputes and quarrelings with one another about them, envying, hating and persecuting one another, becoming as they got power as cruel to each other, as the Heathen had been to them, forcing and imposing their Faiths, Forms and Opinions, by banishments, Torments and Death, to the great shame of the Christian Religion; the foundation of which is love, peace and good will to all men, and the means it prevails by, and the Weapons it conquers with, are not carnal but spiritual, Domonstration, Persuasion and Conviction, whosoever hath, or desire to use any other Weapons about the Christian Religion, are certainly deceived and mistaken so far as to take false opinion for true Religion.  
Now the chief end of Magestracy, Laws and Government among men, is to preserve and defend their properties, liberties and lives, from such as would spoil and rob them of either, and among all the Beasts of prey, blind Zeal, misguided Conscience, private dark selfish opinions are most ravenous, this Wolf in Sheep's clothing hath sharp Teeth and cruel Claws, and a wild untamed devouring Spirit. Notwithstanding his pretence of Zeal and Conscience for the Christian Religion, 'tis the Spirit of Cain and Saul, that murderer and Persecutor about Sacrifice and Worship.  
But whosoever is led by his religious, or rather irreligious opinions, to endeavour the hurt or ruin of his Brother or Neighbour, about matters of mere Religion and Conscience, if he accomplish and effect the same, he is an evil doer and aught to suffer as an evil doer: And he that hath good will to all, and seeks the good of all, and hurts no man (though he be of a contrary mind and judgement to him, and erroneous opinions) he is a well doer; and the Laws of God and all good men, who are appointed to judge and rule for God, are a Terror to the one, and a praise, defence and encouragement to the other.  
Now as you are English men, your very Native Humanity (where it is not spoiled with false opinion) leads you to be sociable, kind and neighbourly, but where the principle and the precepts of the Christian Religion prevails upon you, and possess your Judgements, As to do to others, as you would have them do to you, do good to all, overcome evil with good, love thy Neighbour as thyself, etc. I say, where these universal precepts of Christianity prevails in you, (from the principle thereof) it makes you excel your Native Humanity, and will incline your Hearts to concur with things that are suitable thereto, and to abrogate the contrary.  
Did you and the Princes, and great Monarhs of the World but know, and experience, what ease, what peace, what pleasure, what profit, what true honour, glory and greatness, doth and would attend the true observation of these Christian precepts, beyond all that can be otherwise invented, or devised, you and they would be in love therewith, and seek only the advancement thereof, because tending to the universal good of mankind, not only in this Nation, but throughout all Nations upon the Earth. It is but a little while ago, since most of the Courts and Magistrates of England, were troubled with people about Nonconformity, their Houses broken up, their goods seized and taken away; not leaving some a Bed to lie on, nor a Pot to dress their Food in, nor a Stool to sit on, nor Tools to work with; some places, their Trades destroyed, and their Bodies imprisoned: And if any Magistrate did but incline to kindness and moderation, people of the base sort called Informers, who lived upon the Prey, would threaten them with 100 l. damage, so that many that were not willing to make havoc of people, and their Goods, were forced to please those Beasts of prey, which was a trouble and exercise to many, even of those called the Church of England-men themselves, whose Humanity was not quite destroyed with their Christianity.  
All which the King in his gracious Declaration hath eased you and the people of, for which he is worthy of all gratitude and thankfulness, from his Subjects of all degrees, but especially from his Nonconforming Subjects, who were a people designed for ruin, so that they are engaged to pray, that he may receive from Almighty God a hundred fold ministered into his own Bosom.  
So if you join with the King in laying aside all Penal Laws in matters Ecclesiastical, and set people free from danger of losing their liberty and property for Nonconformity; and with him as your wisdom may devise, prevent the like to be made again in future Ages; you will not only please the King and the Nation, and all people therein, except those in whom corrupt Interest, false Opinion, and fearful Jealousies prevails, but you will also go sar in answering and fulfilling those Christian divine Precepts, which are according to the just and righteous principle of God in all men, and where it is not Stifled, Crucified and Buried, it will arise and Answer to your just and righteous do, and you will have the comfort thereof in yourselves, and will become exemplary to the Nations round about, who when they shall hear, see and behold the blessed Fruits and effects, which certainly will follow your so doing, may be stirred up to imitate and follow so glorious Example.  
If you consult with any that are filled with Fears and Jealousies, especially such who have a corrupt Interest to secure, (which cannot stand in that pomp and power they would have it, without force and violence,) you will be discouraged in so good a Work, as the preventing people from hurting one another about the opinion of Religion is.  
Have a care of men of that temper, your business is to show forth a noble and generous Spirit, Eyeing the good of all without respect to persons, or opinions, and to concur with the King in providing so, that it shall not be in the power of the present and after Ages, to spoil and persecute one another about matters of mere Religion and Conscience.  
It is an ancient Maxim, That the Truth is great and will prevail, and the Christian Religion and Worship that stands therein, requires neither Penal Laws, nor Arms to set it up nor defend it, if any shall call upon you or counsel you to continue and uphold such Laws, search them to the bottom, and you will find they have some private Belly Interest to carry on, and that there lies a venomous biting Adder in their Grass, and that their Religion is such, as cannot stand in the pomp of it without Penal Laws.  
'Tis the Whore, (the false Church) that rides upon the Scarlet coloured Beast, she can't stand alone, nor walk upon her own Legs; and it is she that hath cried to Kings, Emperors, Parliaments and great men, to force and compel people to bear her dead weight, under pains of Banishment, Hanging, Burning and Imprisoning, and the loss of all the good things of this World without conformity to her, wherever you find this cry, assure yourselves that it is not from the Spouse of Christ, it is not the true Mother that would have the living Child divided or cut in pieces, because her own is smothered and dead.  
You may infallibly conclude, that it is not the Apostolical and primitive Spirit of Christianity, that would have men's Liberties, Lives and Estates spoiled, and ruinated about matters of worship and conscience, though their worship was wrong and erroneous, and their conscience defiled and misin-formed, and therein making conscience of things which they ought not, nor may not, when with tenderness and meekness, they are better informed and instructed.  
The true Church's power, as hath been said, was and is Demonstration, Persuasion and Conviction, and her Weapons Spiritual and not Carnal, if any dare say and affirm, that the New Testament way and means to convert or proselyte the World to Christianity, was otherwise, or that the Christian principle, Doctrines and Precepts of Christ, can admit of any other means in th● Christian Religion; let them come forth and show the proof in the New Testament, or else let them not 〈◊〉 regarded.  
In this the Children of God are manifest, and 〈◊〉 Children of the Devil, whosoever doth not Righteousness, are not of God, neither he that loveth not 〈◊〉 Brother, 1 John 3.10.  
If a Man say I love God, and hateth his Brother, he 〈◊〉 a Liar, for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath see● how can he love God whom he hath not seen, 1 John 4. 2●  
FINIS.