wont to say that there was no more Miserable kind of Life than to be a Pope About this time William the first King of England years since Christ 1079 took down the Prelates in Temporallities in England for he ordained that they should exercise no Temporal Authority at all but in spirituallities he rather raised them as may be seen by a passage between Aldred Arch-bishop of York and the King for at a time upon the repulse of a certain suit the Arch bishop in great discontentment offered to depart when the King in awe of his displeasure fell down at his Feet desired pardon and promised to grant his Suit The King all this while being down at the Arch-Bishops feet the noble men that were present put him in mind that he should cause the King to rise nay said the Arch-Bishop let him alone let him find what it is to anger Saint Peter and as by this Story we see the insulting pride of a Prelate in those days so by another we may see the equivocating falsehood of a Prelate at that time for Stigand Arch-Bishop of Canterbury would often swear he had not one Penny upon the Earth when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasures About this time William the second King of England claimed the making of Bishops to be his right years since Christ 1098 and forbad Appeals and Enter-course to Rome For Appeals had been seldom used tell Anselm in this Kings raign Appealed to the Pope upon whose complaint the Pope was about to Excommunicate the King but having a little before Excommunicated the Emperor Henry the fourth he forbore at that time to do it least by making Excommunication common he should make it be slighted at this time great Contention arose between the King and Arch-Bishop Anselm and Anselm not yeilding to the King in any Point Perjudicial to the Popes Authority nor the King yeilding to Anselm in any point prejudicial to his own Prerogative the Contention continued long and hot Anselm often threatning his going to Rome the King told him plainly he would not thrust him out of the Realm but if he would go without his leave he would then keep him out during his pleasure and besides he should carry nothing out of the Realm with him yet Anselm ventured it and the King performed it for William Warlswast was sent to riffle him in his passage at Sea of all he had neither was he suffered to return as long as the King lived during all which time the King took all the profits of his Arch-Bishoprick to his own use At this time Henry the first being King of England at his first coming to the Crown he forbore his claim to the investitures of Bishops years since Christ 1112 but after he had been King some time he claimed that both to invest Bishops and to allow or hinder Appeals to Rome belonged to him In these Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury who was now returned into England opposed him affirming that both of them belonged to the Pope the contention at last was brought to the Pope to whom King Henry sent William Warlestwast Elect Bishop of Exeter who saying to the Pope that his Master would not for the Crown of his Realm loose the Authority of investing his Prelates The Pope started up and answered neither will I loose the disposing of spritual Promotions in England for the Kings head that wears the Crown before God I avow it so the Contention grew long and hot and many Messengers were sent to and fro about it the Conclusion was that the King should receive homage of the Bishop Elect but should not invest them by Staff and Ring to which the King said nothing for the present but forbore not to do it nevertheless for five years after the death of Anselm Ralph Bishop of Rochester was by the King made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury notwithstanding all the Popes threaâ—nings At this time there being two Popes chosen at one time made a great Schism and Tumult years since Christ 1159 the Emperor to quiet them sent for them to appear before him Alexander being one that was chosen scorns the motion Victor doth appear him therefore the Emperor aids to the City and settles him to be Pope Alexander flyes to France and Venice and requires aid against the Emperor at last the Emperor was fain to submit to the Pope who putting his foot upon the Emperors Neck spake these words Thou shalt walk upon the Adders and Basilicks and shalt tread down the Lyon and Dragon mean while the Emperor speaking to the Pope from under his foot not to thee but to Peter the Pope answers both to me and to Peter Thus the Emperor having subjected himself promising to take Alexander for the true Pope and to restore all that he had taken from Rome departed Henry Emperor is crowned on condition of restoring many things to St Peter pretended by the Pope to have been taken away the Pope holding the Crown between his feet and so the Emperor stoops with his head to take it on the Pope immediately with his foot strikes it off again intimating his power to depose him as well as Crown him the Cardinals taking up the Crown thus kicked of puts it on again years since Christ 1216 About the year 1216. after the death of Habert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Moâ—ks of that Covent secretly in the night elected one Reginald their Sub-prior to succeed him and caused him to go to Rome for confirmation but afterward doubting how the King would take it being done without his Knowledge they crave leave of King John to chose a fit man the King is content to allow them the Election but requires himself to have the nomination and thereupon commends unto them John Gray Bishop of Norwich whom he specially favoured and accordingly the Monks Elect him but the matter being afterward referred to the Pope which of these Elections should stand good after many Allegations on both sides the Pope to shew himself indifferent to both disallows them both and nominates a third man one Stephen Langton an English-man a Cardinal the Monks admit him but the King opposes it the Contest grew hot but at first the King gave the Pope as good as he brought for as the Pope threatned the King to Excommunicate him and to interdict the Kingdom so the King threatned the Pope to nullifie his Authority and to banish the Clergy men out of the Realm as the Pope acted as much as he threatned for he interdicted the Kingdom So the King performed as much as he had spoken for he drove the Monks out of the Cloysters yet at last when the Popes Legate came into England he told the King in what great danger he stood first of the King of France by invasion and then of his own Subjects by Rebellion forboth which there was no other help but reconcilement with the Pope this so touched him to the quick that he made him
fare your Lordship well from London this second of July Your Lordships loving Friends Nicholas Hare Richard Rede William Roper William Cooke An Account of the most remarkable Passages at their Examination and Executions are as followeth Elizabeth Warne Martyr Elizabeth Warne of London Widdow her Husband being not long before her death burnt for the same cause she was first apprehended at a Meeting in Bow-Lane where she with others were at prayer and was first carried to the Counter and from thence to Newgate being brought before Bonner the common Articles usally administred to the Martyrs and such as had before suffered were objected against her In the end being brought divers times before him and urged to recant she said do what you will for if I am in an Error Christ was in an Error upon which answer he condemned her as an Heretick and she was burnt at Stratford-Bow neer London about the latter end of the Month called May 1555. George Tankerfield of London Cook born in the City of York Aged about twenty seven years G. Tankerfield Martyr at his first conversion being something touched in his understanding he desired the Lord would open his Truth to him according to his Request there was wrought in him daily a further detestation of the Mass and such Idolatrous stuff so that he did abhor the same and his mind came more and more to be enlightened that at length such a Flame was kindled in him that he began not only to reprove and declare against his own former ignorant actions but exhorted others to repent and to return to the Truth but no sooner did this good thing stir in him but the bad stirred in his Adversaries against him who sent one to his House to apprehend him when the Messenger came for him he was from home but the Messenger declaring to his Wife a Lye saying that he was come for her Husband to dress a Banquet for the Lord Paget the Woman mistrusting no evil in the matter sought out her Husband and acquainted him of the business the poor man when he heard the Message said A Banquet Woman indeed it s such a Banquet as will not be very pleasent to the Flesh but Gods will be done and went home with her where he was soon apprehended and had to Newgate shortly after he was brought to Examination before Bonner where the common Articles concerning the Sacrament and Auricular Confession c. were objected against him and for refusing to recant Sentence was past against him and he was delivered to the Sheriff of Hartford-Shire and burnt at Albions upon the 26th of the Moneth called August 1555. The Sufferings and Examination of Robert Smith who Suffered for the Truth in the Month called August 1555. Robert Smith was brought to Newgate the fifâ—h of the Month called November by John Mathew yeoman of the Gâ—ard by order of the Council this Smith first served in the house of Sir Thomas Smith Knight being then Provest of Eaton from thence he was preferred to Windsor having there in the Colledge a Clerk nâ—p of ten pounds a year of stature he was tall and slender aâ—â—â—e â—â—bout many things In Religion he was fervent after he had â—â—ce â—â—â—â—d the Truth at the coming of Queen Mary to the Crown he was â—eprived of his Clerkship by her Visitors and not long after wâ—s appreheaded and brought to Examination before Bonner as here followeth written and testified with his own hand The principal heads of the first Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner written by himself About nine of the Clock in the Morning I was among the rest of my Brethren brought to the Bishops house and I first of all was brought before him into his Chamber to whom the Bishop said as followeth after he had asked my Name Bonner How long is it ago since the time that you were confessed to any Priest Smith Never since I had years of discretion for I never saw it needful neither commanded of God to come to shew my faults to any of that sinful number whom ye call Priests Bonner Thou shewest thy self even at the first chop to be a rank Heretick which being weary of painting art entred into Divinity and so fallen through thy departing from thy vocations into Heresie Smith Although I have understanding in the said Occupation yet I praise God I have had little need all my life hitherto to live by the same but have lived without the same in mine own house as honestly in my vocation as ye have lived in yours and yet used the same better then ever you used the Pulpit Bonner How long is it ago since you received the Sacrament of the Altar and what is your opinion in the same Smith I never received the same since I had years of discretion nor never will by Gods Grace neither do esteem the same in any point because it hath not Gods Ordinance neither in Name nor in other usage but rather is set up and erected to mock God withal Bonner Do you not believe that it is the very Body of Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary naturally substantially and really after the words of Consecration Smâ—th I shewed you before it was none of Gods Ordinances as you use it then much less to be God or any part of his Substance but only bread and wine erected to the use aforesaid yet nevertheless if ye can prove it to be the Body that ye speak of by the Word I â—ill believe it if not I will as I do account it a detestable Idol not God but contrary to God and his Truth Then after many raging words and vain Objections he said There was no remedy but I must be burned Smith Ye shall do no more unto me then ye have done to better men then either of us both but think not thereby to quench the Spirit of God neither thereby to make your matter good for your sore is too well seen to be healed so privily with Blood for even the very Children have all your deeds in derision so that although ye parch up one place with Authority yet shall it break forth in forty to your shame Then after much ado and many railing sentences the Bishop said throwing away the Paper of mine Examination Well even now by my Troth even in good earnest if thou wilt go and be shriven I will tear this Paper in pieces Smith To which I answered it would be too much to his shame to shew it to men of discretion After which Answer I was carried down to the Garden with my Goaler and there remained until my Brother Harwood was examined and then being again brought up before the said Bonner he demanded if I agreed with Harwood in his Confession upon this Articles following Bonner What say you to the Catholick Church do ye not confess there is one in Earth Smith Yesverily I believe that there is one Catholick Church or faithful Congregation which as the
Apostle saith is builded upon the Prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus being the head Corner-Stone which Church in all her words and works maintaineth the Word and bringeth the same for her Authority and without it doth nothing nor oughâ—â—â— do of which I am assured I am by Grace made a Member Bonner You shall understand that I am bound when my Brother offendeth and will not be reconciled to bring him before the Congregation now if your Church be the same where may a man find it to bring his Brother before the same Smith It is written in the Acts of the Apostles that when the Tyranny of the Bishops was so great against the Church in Jury they were fain to Congregate in Houses and private places as they now do and yet were they nevertheless the Church of God and seeing they had their matters redressed being shut up in a Corner may not we do the like now adayes Bonner Yea their Church was known full well for St. Paul writ to the Corinthians to have the man punished and Excomunicated that had committed evil with his Fathers Wife whereby we may well perceive it was a known Church but yours is not known Smith Then could you not Persecute it as ye do but as ye say the Church of God at Corinth was manifest both to God and Paul even so is this Church of God in England whom ye Persecute both known to God and also even to the very Wicked although they know not nor will not know their Truth nor Conversation yea and your sinful number have professed their Truth and maintained the same a long season Bonner Well Thou sayest that the Church of God was only at Corinth when Paul writ unto them and so will I put in Writing shall I Smith I do marvel greatly that you are not ashamed to lay Snares for your Brethren on this manner this is now the third Snare you have laid for me first to make me confess that the Church of England is not the Church of Christ Secondly to say it is not known Thirdly to say the Church of God is not Universal but Particular and this is not the office of a Bishop for if an Innocent had come in your way you would have done your best I see to have intangled him Harpsfield Well Friend quoth one of the Chaplains you are no Innocent as appeareth Smith By the Grace of God I am that I am and this Grace in me I hope is not vain Bonner Laughing said tell me how sayest thou of the Church Smith I told you whereupon the true Church is builded and I affirm in England to be the Congregation of God and also in Omnem Terram as it is written their sound is gone forth into all Lands and that is the afflicted and persecuted Church which ye cease not to Imprison Slay and Kill And in Corinth was not all the Congregation of God but a number of those holy and elect People of God for neither Paul nor Peter were present at Corinth when they wrote and yet were they of the Church of God as many thousands more which also Communicate in that holy Spirit Bonner What call you Catholick and what call you Church Smith Catholick is universal and Church is a Congregation knit together in unity Then after much like vain talk it was laid to his charge that his fellow and he spoke one thing whereof he praised God and was sent again to the Garden where after a while as his Brother Harwood and he had been together came one of the Chaplains that much desired to commune with him demanding first if he were a Prisoner Smith I am in this flesh a Prisoner and subject to my Master and yours but I hope yet the Lords Free-man through Christ Jesus Doctor I do much desire to talk with you lovingly because you are a man that I much lament with many other sweet words To which I answered sub melle lates venenum and after much ado about his God I compelled him to say that it must needs enter into the Belly and so fall into the draught to which he answered Doctor What deragation was it to Christ when the Jews spit in his Face Smith If the Jews being his Enemies did but spit in his Face and we being his Friends throw him into the draught which of us have deserved the greatest Damnation Then by your Arguments he that doth injury to Christ shall have a most Plenteous Salvation Then start he away and would have his humanity in comprehensible making a comparison between our Soul and the Body of Christ bringing in to serve his turn which way Christ came in among his disciples the Doors being shut Smith Although it be said that when he came the doors were shut yet have I as much to prove that the doors opened at his coming as ye have to prove he came through the door for that mighty God that brought the Disciples out of prison which yet when search came were found shut was able to let Christ in at the door although it were shut and yet it maketh not for your purpose for they saw him heard him and felt him and so cannot we say ye do at which answer he made many scoffs and departed and we were carried into my Lords Hall where we were baited of my Lords Band almost all the day until our Keeper seeing their misorder shut us up in a fair Chamber while my Lord went into his Sinagogue to condemn M. Dealy and John Newman Rob. Smith brought again before the Bishop and the L. Mayor Then brought they up the Lord Mayor to hear our matter above in the Chamber and I first of all was called into the Chamber where the Bishop intended to Sup where the Lord Mayor being set with the Bishop and one of the Sheriffs Wine was walking on every side I standing before them as an outcast which made me remember how Pilate and Herod were made Friends but no man was sorry for Josephs hurt but after the Bishop had well drunk my Articles were sent for and read and he demanded whether I said not as was written Smith That I have said I have said and what I have said I do mean utterly Bonner Well my Lord Mayor your Lordship hath hard somewhat what a stout Heretick this is and that his Articles have deserved death yet nevertheless for as much as they do report me for to seek Blood and cast me Bloody Bonner whereas God knoweth I never sought any mans blood in all my life I have stayed him from the Consistory this day whether I might have brought him justly and yet here before your Lordship I desire him to turn and I will with all speed dispatch him out of trouble and this I profess before your Lordship and all this Audience Smith Why do you put on this fair visor before the Lord Mayor to make him believe that ye seek not my Blood to Câ—oâ—k your Murthers through my stoutness as you
do against me So I remained a Prisoner about ten daies in Coventry being never called to my Answer contrary to Law they having no Warrant to apprehend me but my elder Brother God lay not their extream doing against me to their charge at the great Day The second day after the Bishops coming to Coventry the Goaler was ordered to carry me before him when I came before the Bishop he said he was my Bishop for lack of a better and willed me to submit my self I said I am not come to Accuse my self what have you to lay to my charge He asked me whether I was learned I answered smally learned The Chancellor standing by said I was a Master of Art Then the Bishop laid to my charge my not coming to Church Here I might have dallied with him and put him to his proofs knowing that none of the Citizens were able to prove any such matter against me but I answered I neither had nor would come at their Church as long as their Mass was used there to save if I had them five hundred lives I willed him to shew me one jot or tittle in the Scripture for the proof and defence of the Mass He answered he came to teach and not to be taught I was content I said to learn of him so far as he was able to teach me by the Word of God Bishop Who shall judge the Word Glover Christ was contend the People should judge of his Doctrine by searching the Scriptures and so was Paul I am content the Primitive Church next the Apostles time shall judge betwixt you and me But he refused to be judged by these Then he said I am your Bishop and therefore you must believe me Glover If you say black is white must I say as you say Here the Chancellor noted me to be arrogant because I would not give place to my Bishop Glover If you must be believed because you are a Bishop why find you fault with the People that believed Lâ—timer Ridly and Hooper who were Bishops Bishop Because they were Hereticks Glover And may not you err To which the Bishop instead of making answer asserted his Authority c. The next day after I was had to Liechfield which at first discouraged me considering my weakness of body until I considered the same God that had preserved me was able to preserve me there so long as I put my trust in him When I came to Liechfield the same night I was put in a Prison where I continued until I was condemned in a place next to the Dungeon a narrow Room strong of building and very cold with small light and there I was allowed a bundle of Straw instead of my Bed without any thing to sit down upon but God of his great Mercy through prayer gave me great patience that night so that if it had been his pleasure I could have been contented to have ended my life the Bishops man came to me in the morning who was my Keeper to whom I said this is a great exteamity God send us patience and no more Then they were content that I should have a Bed of my own procuring but I was allowed no help night nor day nor company of any man notwithstanding my great sickness nor yet Paper Pen or Ink or Books save my new Testament in Latine and another little Book which I got in privately About two dayes after the Chancellor and one Temsey a Prebendary came to me to the Prison and exhorted me to conform to the Bishop and to the Church I said I refused not to be ordered by that Church that was ordered by the Word of God Chancellor How know you the Word of God but by the Church Glover said to the Chancellor The Church sheweth which is the Word of God therefore the Church is above the Word of God This is no good reason in Learning for its like unto this John shewed the People who was Christ â—ergo John was above Christ The Chancellor said he came not to reason with me so I remained without any further Conference with any man by the space of eight dayes till the Bishop came in which tiâ—â— I gave my self continually to prayer and meditation I found in my self daily an amendment of health in my body and increase of peace in Conscience and many consolations from God by the help of his holy Spirit and sometimes a taste and glimmering of the Life to come though the Enemy ceased not many times sundry wayes to assault me When the Bishop came to Liechfield I was had before him in a by Chamber next my Prison when I came and saw none but his Officers Chaplains and Servants except and Old Priest I was partly amazed and lifted up my heart to God for his mercifull help and assistance Some discourse at that time the Bishop had with this faithfull Martyr concerning the Sacrament and Confession the usual Snares but his last Examination when he was condemned I do not find upon Record but this I find noted that after Condemnation this Servant of the Lord was under some exercise of heaviness and dulness of Spirit and desolate of all Spiritual Consolation and full of much discomfort and unaptness to bear the bitter Cross of Martyrdom ready to be laid upon him Whereupon he fearing in himself lest the Lord had utterly withdrawn his wonted favour from him made his condition known to one Austen Bernher his faithfull Friend how that he had earnestly prayed day and night to the Lord and yet could receive no motion nor sense of any comfort from him Austen exhorted him patiently to wait the Lords pleasure and howsoever his present feeling was yet seeing his Cause was just and true to stick constantly to the same and not to doubt but the Lord in his good time would visit him and satisfie his desire with plenty of Consolation the next day as he was going to the place of Execution he was so mightily replenished with holy Comfort and Heavenly Joyes that he cryed out to Austen Bernher and said Austen He is come he is come In the same Fire with him was burned Cornelius Bongey of Coventry Cornelius Bongey burned and condemned by the said Radulph Bishop of Coventry and Liechfield The 9th day of the Moneth called October were condemned to be burnt William Woolsey Will. Woolsey and Rob. Pygot Martyrs and Robert Pygot of Wisbidge in the Isle of Ely by John Fuller the Chancellor to the Bishop of Ely and others Doctor Fuller and some others coming to visit William Woolsey in Prison VVilliam heard all they had to say to him and then spake these words Wâ— be unto you Scribes and Pharisees ye Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven before men ye your selves go not in neither suffer ye them that come to enter in Not long after the Doctor came to VVilliam again and said to him thou troublest my Conscience wherefore I pray thee depart and rule thy Tongue so
as if he by his Power were unable to perform it The Church formerly by enduring Misery and Imprisonment was known to be a true Church The pretended Church now do terrifie others by Imprisonment Banishment and Misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the World when as the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertul. ad scapulam It agreeth both with human Reason and natural Equity that every man worship God uncompelled neither beseemeth it any Religion to compel another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be imbraced and not by constraint forasmuch as the Offerings were required of those that freely and of good will offered and not from the contrary Jerom in Proaem lib. 4. in Jeremiam Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit let us strike through with the Arrows of the Spirit all Sons and Disciples of mis-led Hereticks that is with Testimonies of Scriptures the slaughter of Hereticks is by the Word of God Brentius upon the first of the Corinthians chap. 3. No man hath power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences for willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and cheerful mind must those that come run unto Christ Luther in his Books of the Civil Magistrate saith The Laws of the Civil Magistrates Government extends no further then over the Body or Goods and to that which is external for over the Soul God will not suffer any man to rule only he himself will Rule there wherefore whosoever doth under take to give Laws unto the Souls and Consciences of men he usurpeth that Government himself which appertaineth unto God c. Therefore upon 1 Kings 5. In the building of the Temple there was no sound of Iron heard to signifie that Christ will have in his Church a free and a willing People not compelled and constrained by Laws and Statutes Again he faith upon Luke 22. It is not the true Catholick Church which is defended by the secular Arm or humane Power but the false and feigned Church which although it carries the name of a Church yet it denies the power thereof And upon Psal 17. he saith For the true Church of Christ knoweth not Brachium seculare which the Bishops now adayes chiefly use Again in Postil Dom. 1 post Epipham he saith Let not Christians be commanded but exhorted for he that willingly will not do that whereunto he is friendly exhorted he is no Christian wherefore they that do compel those that are not willing shew thereby that they are not Christian Preachers but worldly Beadles Again upon 1 Peter 3. He saith If the Civil Magistrate shall command me to believe thus and thus I should answer him after this manner look you to your civil or worldly Government your Power extends not so far as to command any thing in Gods Kingdom therefore herein I may not hear you for if you cannot bear it that any should usurp Authority where you have to command how do you think that God should suffer you to thrust him from his Seat and to seat your self therein SECT IV. The Fourth Reason It s no prejudice to a Kingdom or Common-wealth if Liberty of Conscience be suffered to such as fear God as is or will be manifested in such mens lives and conversations as Scripture Examples testifie AEraham abode among the Cananites a long time yet contrary to them in Religion Gen. 13.7 and 16.13 Again he sojourned in Gerar and King Abimelech gave him leave to abide is his Land Gen. 20.21 23 24. Isaac also dwelt in the same Land yet contrary in Religion Gen. 26. Jacoh lived Twenty years in one house with his Unckle Laban yet differed in Religion Gen. 31. The People of Israel were about Four hundred and thirty years in that infamous Land of Egypt and afterwards seventy years in Babylon all which time they differed in Religion from the State Exod 12. and 2 Chron. 36. Come to the time of Christ when Israel was under the Romans where lived divers Sects of Religion as Herodians Scribes and Pharisees Saduces and Libertines Thudeans and Samaritans besides the common Religion of the Jews Christ and his Apostles all which differed from the common Religion of the State which was like the worship of Diana which almost the whole World then worshipped Acts 19.20 All these lived under the Government of Caesur being no thing hurtful to the Common-wealth giving unto Caesar that which was his and for their Religion and Consciences towards God he left them to themselves as having no dominion over their Souls and Consciences and when the Enemies of Truth raised up any Tumults the wisdom of the Magistrate most wisely appeased them Acts 18.14 and 19.35 SECT V. Several Testimonies shewing that Conscience ought to be free and not to be imposed upon and no person be compelled to accuse himself or purge himself by Oath c. ACcusare se nemo tenetur saith Vasquius nisi coram deâ— secundum illud Chrysostomi non tibi dico ut teprodas Valque Coâ—irs illustraes p. 124. num 27. No man is bound to accuse himself but before God according to that of Chrisostome I do not say that thou shouldst betray thy self Quis sibi utrumque audeat assumere ut unquam sit ipse accusator Judex Aug. hom 50. Who dares assume to himself to be both an Accuser and a Judge saith Austin That famous Lawyer Cooke saith Juramentum in propria est inventio Diaboli ad detrudendum anim as miserorum in infernum The Oath Ex officio saith he is an invention of the Devil to cast the Souls of miserable people into Hell Let the Judges saith Tindall judge and condemn the Trespasses under lawful Witnesses Tindals Obed. of Christ p. 22. Col. 2. and not break up into the Consciences of men after the Example of Antichrists Disciples and compel them either to forswear themselves or to testifie against themselves which abomination saith he our Prelates learned of Caiphas Matth. 26. saying to Christ I adjure or charge thee in the name of the Living God that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the Son of the Living God SECT VI. Some remarkable Observation collected out of a Book entituled ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΕΚΛΕΚΤΙΚΗ A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying shewing the unreasonableness of prescribing to othermens Faith and the Iniquity of persecuting different Opinions by Jer. Tayler D. D. so stiled Chaplin in Ordinary to his late Majesty IN his Epistle Dedicatory are these words viz. As contrary as Cruelty is to Mercy as Tyranny to Charity so is War and Bloodshed to the Meekness and Gentleness of Christian Religion And further speaks to dispute men into Mercies Compliances and Tolerations mutual and further adds I designed a Discourse to this purpose with as much greediness as if I had thought it possible with my Arguments to have perswaded the rough and hard handed Souldiers to have disbanded