To the Kings most Excellent majesty, and the Honourable Court of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of many his majesty's loyal and faithful subjects, some of which having been miserably persecured by the Prelates and their Adherents, by all rigorous courses, for their Consciences, practising nothing but what was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, who was Lord of all Administrations, Math. 28.19. and practised by the Primitive Christians; submitting to his majesty and his laws, so far as concerns our Estates, liberty, and Lives; and so, as we conceive, give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God those things that are his.  
FIrst, than were our Religion as false as our Adversaries pretend, yet were that no ground to take away our Lives or Estates: for security being had, for our loyalty to our Prince and country (which when we refuse to give, we desire no longer to live) we say, our Errors in Judgement were it proved against us (as we are sure by the Word of God it can never be) were no ground for Persecution; as is clear by the Parable of the Tares and Wheat, Math. 13. By the Tares, must needs be understood men professing a false Religion: which when some desired to have plucked up, the Lord declared his mind to the contrary, and gave command they should be let alone, 
Math. 18.17.1 Cor. 5.5. John 16.2. Rom. 13.1 Thess. 1.7, 8. Rom. 2.8, 9, 16. Rom. 13.1.1 Pet. 2.13, 14.  and grow with the Wheat unto the Harvest in the World, not in the Church, lest men undertaking to pluck up the Tares, wanting wisdom to distinguish, should pluck up the Wheat in stead thereof, as it hath and shall come to pass: according to the words of Christ, which showeth, that some shall be so blindly devoted, as to kill the Saints, thinking they do God service; and therefore Christ will have the Tares let alone with the Wheat until the Harvest: Then who, without sin, can attempt to pluck them up, before that time? And this doth no way contradict God's Word, which saith, That the Magistrates are God's Ministers, to take vengeance on them that do evil: the Tares being sinners against God in false Religion, whom he hath reserved to be punished with flaming fire at the day of Christ; the other being trespassers against men, and are justly to be punished by the Magistrate.  
Secondly, 
Math. 15.14.  the same Christ our Lord commandeth, That those that are blindly led on in a false Religion, and are offended at him for Teaching his, should be let alone; and referreth their punishment, to the falling into the Ditch.  
Thirdly, the Lord Christ reproveth those Disciples, that would have had Fire come down from Heaven, and devour those Samaritans that would not receive him, 
Luk. 9.54, 55, 56.  in these words; Ye know not of what spirit ye are, for the son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Which showeth plainly, that Christ would have no man hurt for Religion, yea, though they were refusers of himself.  
Fourthly, when the Lord Christ sent forth the Twelve to preach the Gospel of the kingdom, this is the utmost that he directed them unto concerning those that should refuse to hear their words, 
Math. 10.14, 15.  namely, to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them, leaving their further punishment to the Day of Judgement. This was clear under the Law, where none was compelled to the worship of God by the authority of the Magistrate, but as the Lord did persuade the heart by his Word. And as this was so under the Law, much more in the time of the Gospel, 
Gen. 9.27. Exo. 35.5.21, 22, 29. Levit. 3.1. Coloss. 2.17. Psal. 18.44. & 110.3. Mat. 28.19, 20 2 Cor. 10.4, 5.2 Tim. 2.24.  the Body being of Christ: as first, by the Commission of Christ given to the Apostles; where Christ showeth, though all power in Heaven and Earth was his, yet he only appoints Preaching the Gospel for the gathering his Churches throughout the world: according to Paul's words, where he saith, The Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong Holds, casting down Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.  
Again, the same Apostle commandeth, That the servant of the Lord strive not, but be gentle towards all men, suffering the evil, instructing with meekness the contrary-minded, proving if God at any time will give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the Truth, and come to amendment, out of the snare of the devil. Which plainly showeth, that Repentance must be continually waited for, and not constrained by violence or persecution; 
Ephes. 2.5.  and that because Repentance is the gift of God, and cannot be given by man: and therefore Religion not to be forced or compelled.  
According to these Commands, the holy Prophets foretold, That when the Law of Moses should cease in matters of worship, and the Law of the Messiah should be set up in stead thereof, that then the carnal Weapons should cease, 
Isa. 2.4. Micha 4.3, 4. Isa. 11.9. Isa. 42.1, 2, 3. Math. 12.18, 19, 20.2 Tim. 2.24.25, 26.2 Cor. 10.4.  They shall break their Swords into Mattocks, and their spears into Sythes, Nation shall not rise against Nation, neither shall they learn war any more; They shall sit every man under his Vine, and under his own figtree, and none shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it; There shall none hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Seas. Which when Christ came, he taught and practised, and so did his Apostles and servant: Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall show Judgement to the Gentiles; he shall not strive nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets; a bruised Reed shall he not break, and smoking Flax shall he not quench, till he send forth Judgement unto victory. Advising them to be so far from persecuting those that should oppose, 
Rom. 12.14. to the 20.  and not be of their Religion, that when they were persecuted they should pray, when they were cursed they should bless, leaving the Judgement to God.  
The reason of all is, They who are now blind, may see; They who now reject the Truth, may receive it; They who are now Tares, 
Acts 8.3. Acts 9.5, 6.1 Cor. 6.9.1 Pet. 2.10.  may become wheat; They who are now in the snare of the devil, through wicked works, and Adversaries to the Truth, may hereafter come to Repentance; They that are now Blasphemers and Persecutors, as Saint Paul was, may in time become most glorious and faithful Witnesses, as he did; They that are now Idolaters, as the Corinthians sometimes were, may hereafter, as they, become true worshippers of God; They who for the present are no people of God in visible appearance, nor under mercy, may hereafter become the people of God, obtaining mercy as the Saints have done: 
Math. 20.6.  for some come not till the Eleventh hour, though some came at the First, Third, and Sixt hour, yet some not till the Last; which, should they be put to death, because they come not with the First, they then would be prevented from coming at all.  
It is affirmed by King James of famous memory, in his Speech at the Sessions of Parliament, Anno 1609. That it is a sure Rule in divinity, That God never loves to plant his Church with violence & bloodshed.  
Again, in his apology for the Oath of allegiance, Pag. 4. speaking of those Papists that took the said Oath, saith; I gave a good proof for it, that I never intended persecution for Conscience cause, but only desired to be secured of them for civil obedience. It was usually the condition of the Christians to be persecuted, but not to persecute. And lamentable it is to see the folly of late times, and we cannot but grieve at the folly of men, who think by human Inventions, and carnal aid of laws and Statutes, to help God, and with worldly power and pomp to defend the Churches of Christ; 
Math. 26.52, 53, 54.  as if he by his own power were not able to do it, and to perform his own will.  
The Church of Christ hath formerly been known, by enduring misery and Imprisonment; 
John 15.18, 19 Revel. 13.3.  but it is the mark of the Church of Antichrist, to terrify others by Imprisonments, Banishments, and Persecutions, boasting herself, that she is highly esteemed in the world, whereas the true Church cannot but be hated of the same.  
It was commanded by the Law, 
Deut. 22.25. Aosea 2.19.2 Cor. 11.2.  If a man met a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, he was to die: Then what shall those expect, that shall force the Conscience, the Spouse of Christ?  
The example of many Nations, both in Scripture, and at this day known, may suffice to suffer the Conscience free: 
Gen. 20. Gen. 23. Gen. 13. Gen. 26.  Abraham lived in Egypt, in Gerar, among the Philistines; after, with the Hittites: Lot in Sodom; Isaac, in Gerar; Israel, in Egypt 430 years; after, in Babylon 30 years; yet never constrained in their Religion. Also in the days of our Saviour, how many Religions were there in that Empire of Caesar's, yet not by him persecuted, or constrained to his Religion.  
It was the judgement of Luther, 
Psal. 89.27. Isa. 33.22. Phil. 2.9.2 Tim. 3.16. James 4.12. Rev. 22.18, 19  That the laws of the civil Magistrate extended no farther than over the bodies and goods, and that which is external; for over the soul, God will have none to rule but himself. And therefore, wherever the civil Magistrate undertaketh to set laws for the souls and Consciences of men, he usurpeth that Government and authority to himself, which appertaineth only to God.  
And therefore we conceive it the highest of Antichrists impierie, sitting in the Temple of God as God, showing himself that he is God, 2 Thess. 2.4. in giving laws to the Conscience, which is God's Prerogative.  
In the building of the Temple, 
Deut. 27.5. Josuah 8.31. Isa. 60.11. Revel. 21.24.  there was no sound of Iron heard, to show, that Christ will have in his Church a free consent, not compelled nor constrained by laws and Statutes, for the Kings of the Earth shall bring their glory unto it.  
Again, the Churches of Christ must look for suffering, 
Rom. 8.29. Phil. 3.10. Heb. 2.10.  with every particular member thereof, as he himself did, who is their Head, being thereby made perfect, being the way and means that God hath appointed to publish the Gospel: Which caused the Fathers to say, The blood of the Martyrs was the Seed of the Church.  
Therefore Christians are to be exhorted, not compelled: for he that will not do that whereunto he is exhorted and persuaded, the Gospel enjoining, is no true Christian as yet; 
2 Tim. 2.24.  and they that go not this Gospel way, to persuade men by exhortation and counsel, but seek to do it by constraint, show themselves not Gospel Teachers.  
For consider, if an earthly King will take it so ill, as surely he may at his subjects hands, to have any equalise themselves with him, or to make laws for his subjects to be guided and ruled by; 
Deut. 4.2. Prov. 30.6. Rev. 22.18, 19 John 4.24. John 3.8.2 Cor. 5.10. Gal. 1.10.  how much more the King of Kings, Christ Jesus, by whom alone King's reign, will he suffer himself to be displaced, and an earthly King placed therein?  
Thus we conceive it is clear, That no man ought to be forced in matter of Religion, the Gospel being spiritual, and requireth only spiritual worshippers, like to itself: which cannot be made so, but by the Word and Spirit of God, which breatheth where and when it listeth, and not where and when men's laws and Statutes pleaseth; which may make hypocrites, but not true Christians.  Give glory to God through Jesus Christ alone, Phil. 3.3. By Edward Barber, sometimes Prisoner in Newgate for the Gospel of Christ. In all humility submitting to better Judgements.  

Printed in the year 1641.