every impartial Reader who must and that every man for himself be judge of the verity of what he Reads even by the Light of the Spirit of Christ Iesus in his own Conscience to which this is singly committed E. B. From my place of present restraint the 27th day of the 7th Month 1662. THE TESTIMONY OF A CLOUD of WITNESSES Who in their Generation have testified against that horrible Evil of FORCING OF CONSCIENCE and PERSECUTION about Matters of RELIGION CHAP. I. Concerning the Christian Religion how it is not to be planted established nor defended by Weapons nor by Violence and how it doth not admit of any forcing of Conscience A Certain Chancellour speaking before the King and his Council at Orleans in praise of the Christian Religion said That those that went about to Establish the same by Weapons did against their Calling which is said he to suffer Violence and not to do it Herein differ we said Chrisostomus from the Heathen who do force and compel by Violence but the Christians they are patient and forbearing neither hath our Religion had her beginning with Weapons said he neither hath it been maintained by Weapons It is not the manner of the Children of God to Persecute others to Death about their Religion but it hath been and is their Condition to be put to Death themselves for the Testimony of the Truth Moreover said he the shedding of blood about Religion is an evident token of Antichrist Relig. Uryl Pag. 192. That Religion which goeth about to set up a Sect which seeketh not Peace but speaketh against all and will suffer none equal with it but will be alone Master and exercise Lordship over the faith of all others and with the Civil Powers persecute those that are of another Opinion by shedding their blood Banishing of them and spoiling of their Goods or with War and Fighting Establish their own such do thereby shew that they are no right Shepherds of the true Christians but rather Wolves Caines Ishmaelites and Esauhites whose hand is against all and every mans hand against them The Kingdom of Christ which is otherwise called the Christian Church said a certain Writer hath no earthly King no Temporal Magistrate nor Governour for the Lord alone is King in his Kingdom as he is Ordained to be the Head of the Church so he hath committed that to none to Govern This King governeth with the word of his Grace the Soul and Conscience here are none compelled for there is a Spiritual Freedom and willingness there is no Violence or contention which was held forth by the Figure of Solomon's Temple where no Hammar no Axe or Iron instrument was to be heard but there 's Love and Unity Peace and Mercy among all his Children That is certain said one that all Religion is vain without true Godliness and it is little matter of what Opinion any man be in different points of Religion while he leadeth an ungodly life and through that Doctaine which he professeth is not bettered but bittered against his fellow Christian and hateth judgeth and persecuteth him as it often happeneth among them that seem to be Religious The States of Holland have confessed that the point of Religion in the Government of a Land was of great concernment And further they said that they abominated forcing of Conscience otherwise then with good Doctrine good works and intreaties A certain Turkish Ambassadour complained to the King Emmanuel of Portugal of the King of Spain for his compelling by Violence the Moores in his Dominion to the Christian Faith or Religion saying it was not lawful neither for the Christians nor yet for the Mahomets to compel any man so as that he should forsake that Religion in which he had been Educated And that he could not be silent to see such things to the injury and desolation of People in the general but must testifie that it was to the prejudice of Mankind and to the disadvantage of Religion c. Osorius declared That it was neither according to the Law nor according to Religion to compel the Iewes and Moores to the Faith And that none ought to determine to restrain the free mind for he affirmed it was not the Will of Christ neither ought such things to be Anno 1455. The Turk wrote a Letter to the Pope Calixtus the third wherein he acknowledged that Iesus Christ had been a great Prophet yet said he he hath not commanded that any should compel People by Violence and Weapons to believe his Law Haywardus said That the best Writers of that time did agree in one Opinion and with Tertulliano Lactantio Cassiodoro Iosepho c. That People must inform men to imbrace Religion with reason and not compel them by Violence I have for a long season determined said one of the Kings of France to reform the Church which without Peace said he I cannot do and it is impossible to reform or convert People by Violence I am King as a Shepherd said he and will not shed the blood of my Sheep but will gather them through the mildness and goodness of a King and not through the Power of Tyranny And I will give them of the Reformed Religion right Liberty to live and dwell free without being examined perplexed molested or compelled to any thing contrary to their Conscience for they shall have the free exercise of their Religion c. Vide Chron. Vande Onderg 2. Deel Page 1514. And as concerning the planting nourishing and defending of the Christian Religion that is said to be the office and work of upright and sincere Teachers further saith he it concerns the Magistrate to defend and protect the Innocent and harmless People who are Persecuted Robbed Prisoned and Tyrannically used Experience hath sufficiently manifested both in France Germany Bohemia and in the Low-Countries and elsewhere that to make War about Religion or thereby to establish and defend it is an absolute perverse and destructive means and that which is totally against the true Christian Religion yet notwithstanding some cry up Weapons Weapons but alas have we not seen that Weapons are stirred up against Weapons And what is this reconciling slaughter with slaughter and blood with blood but the manner and custome of the Heathen CHAP. II. Concerning the true and false Church the Gospel and Religion As also shewing the insufficiency of carnal Weapons in Spiritual Matters THe Church that is dispersed through the World hath the name of Christ her Head and is strengthened not with resisting but with Suffering and Patience for the Gospel in the Primitive Church was not Preached with Swords and an Armed hand but with Exhortation and Perswasion Hist. Eccl. lib. 4 Chap. 26. Barnardus said The Church must not persecute as Wolves but be Persecuted like as the Sheep are of the Wolves And in this Calamity of the World they stand as Palm-trees through the Power of God and grow and increase so that some have esteemed Sanguis Martirum est
to judge of what more assurance shall they have than the Magistrate who through their strong importuning blindly Persecute the Hereticks and have martyred and put to death most of the Christians and Servants of God said he how can they then more than the Magistrate judge of such hidden Mysteries as before mentioned Vide Synopsis Disp. 57. Thes. Chap. 20. CHAP. XIII The necessity of just and equal Liberty How expedient it is to hear and see before one Iudge How the Persecuting Clergy do follow the Example of the Iewes How Life and Conversation hath not been so much looked at as difference in Doctrine and Worship And how prejudicial it would be for Christians if their Counsel were followed that stir up men to Persecute ARemnus said The profitableness of the King and Kingdom requireth a firm and intire Union of all the Citizens and Subjects now there can be no firm Union said he except that all the Citizens and Subjects injoy equality and that especially in matters of Religion for inequallity among them in that particular is and hath been of most Politicians called one Pestilence of the Kingdom or Common-Wealth Anno 1575. Com. dist Fol. 79. Qui autem partem civium consulunt partem negligunt rem pernitiosissimam in civitatem inducunt Cicero in offi When the King Lodewick of France was much importuned by the Cardinals and Bishops to put several People to Death in his Dominion who were accused of much odious Heresie the King said If I were to begin a War with the Turk or the Devil I would first hear them And afterwards he sent Legaten to examine the matter and when he found them to be such in their Life and Conversation and Worship that he broke out with an Oath and said These men are better than I with my Catholicks Urede hand van Colen Fol. 39. The Iewes Scribes and Pharisees exclaimed against Christ to the Magistrate and said If he had not been an Evil doer we would not have delivered Him up unto thee And then they accused Him of perverting the Nation of forbidding the People to give tribute to Caesar of stirring up the People of casting out Devils through Beelzebub and they also said That they had a Law and that by that Law he ought to die c. Luke 23.2 5. John 18.30 Mark 3.21 John 19.6 7. Thus did they seek to deceive Pilate who was unexperienced in their Law even as the Clergy now said a certain Writer stir up the Magistrates with their Lies seeking to make them believe that they have a Law by which Hereticks ought to be Persecuted and put to Death and by their Sophistical Art said he can they prevaile with them so far as that finally they to continue their Friend and the Emperours or the Kings deliver them into their hands as Pilate did Christ who said Take Him and Iudge Him according to your Law c. Certainly said one where Christ is now made manifest there are also Iudas's to be found the World is no better nor holier then it was but rather worse and therefore doth the Truth now suffer under the name of Heresie said he as heretofore For now in these Dayes men do little regard Life or Conversation but presently fall upon judging of the Doctrine Persecuting and shamefully Intreating those that differ from them in Doctrine though their Life be never so good said he but indeed they ought to do otherwise and with the Spirit of Meekness to instruct those that Erre and not to put men to death for their Errors which is indeed a very great Error Condonabiles sunt quidem piorum hominum errores sicut et non quivis corporis morbus uxitialis est Certainly it is Unchristian-like yea unnatural That any should judge a man to be an obstinate Heretick who lives a good life and is of an upright mind and who cannot comprehend the matter otherwise than he understandeth it and thereupon is he resolved to suffer whatsoever may come but when they have nothing to charge against his Life then rail they against his Doctrine like as the Persecutors of Daniel said We shall have nothing against him except it be concerning his Worship And as Amazia the Priest of Bethel informed the King against Amos and accused him of Uproar and told him that the Land could not bear all his Words Amos 7.10 Dan. 6.5 Acts 24. Ier. 26.8 9 11. If one Sect should rise up against another to the destroying one of another which must needs follow if their Counsel be followed who would have Hereticks put to Death then when they had destroyed one another consider then what a door there would be opened for the Turk and for other Barbarous People for them to take possession of the remainder and then to Tyrannize over them But as Lactantius said Even as they are deceived in the Religion it self so are they deceived in the manner of its Protection for the true Religion is not to be defended with Killing but with Exhorting not with Cruelty but with Patience not with Wickedness but by Faith for they that go about to defend their Worship with Torments they rather pollute it than defend it CHAP. XIV Several Testimonies against Persecution and Forcing of Conscience Of the Liberty among the Heathen How Meekness is better than War How the Christians Meetings were forbidden upon Pain of Death And of the Efficacy of Faith and Patience STephanus King of Poland said It belongeth not to me to Reform the Conscience I have alwayes gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the Weeds to grow until the time of Harvest for I know that the number of Believers is but small therefore said he when some were proceeding in Persecution Ego sum Rex Populorum non Conscientiarum i. e. I am King of the People and not of their Consciences He also affirmed That Religion was not to be planted with Fire and Sword Chron. van de Rel. vrijh 2 deel Tindallus apud Foxium in Actis et Monument is said The New-Testament of Christ suffered no Law of Compelling but alone of Perswading and Exhorting pag. 1338. Timestius Exhorted the Emperor To cease from Persecution beseeching him that he would not be cruel by reason of the discord or defference of the Christians Doctrine seeing there was such a multitude of Sects among the Heathen and that every one continue in his own Doctrine contrary to the Meaning and Doctrine of the rest The Prince of Orange Testified That it was impossible that the Land should be kept in Peace except there was a free Tolleration in the exercise of Religion Anno 1579. Swinckfeild testified That according to the Doctrine of Christ and the Example of the Apostles it did not become the Preachers of the Gospel and Ministers of the New-Testament in no wise to Force with Violence and Tyranny the Conscience in Matters of Faith
Heaven unto Wrath and Indignation and it wounds and oppresses the Immortal Soul unto Death and Damnation Surely It is contrary to the very purpose of God in Order of Creation who made and Ordained Mankind free from Bondage and never brought him forth into the World to be a subjected slave to the will of another man in things Temporal much lesse in things Spiritual and relating to Eternity and this work of Imposing by force in matters of Faith Worship and Duty to God of one man upon another or of some Persons over all is certainly an Act of Bondage and Slavery laid as a grievous yoak upon the necks one of another and subjecting one another in Oppression not unto the good Will of the Creator but unto the evil will of mortal perishing and sinful Creature and this differing from and contrary to the pure and perfect Order and Decree of Creation which was blessed altogether and whatsoever is degenerated by Corruption and Erred through Temptation from that Pure and Holy Order of Creation either in things Wordly or Divine is in the Curse and Oposition against the Holy Creator and so is this thing of which I am now Treating Imposition upon Conscience in matters Divine and Temporal Force exercised in Spiritual Cases is the highest Product of Degeneration and the greater degression from the Holy Order of Creation for without Controversie the Creator himself reserved and retained in his alone onely Power the Priviledge of Supremacy in and over the inward man in all the matters Immortal that he might be the onely Lord in that Case and give Spiritual Law to Command and force thereby to exercise the Soul and heart in Fear Love Faith Worship and Obedience to himself that he might be served as the Lord over all most chiefly in respect of the Inward Spiritual and Immortal man This Power of Supremacy I say he reserved and retained in himself in the Creation to exercise over Mankind and did not commit this Priviledge to any other wherefore without Controversie it is an Usurpation of the Creators rightful Dominion it is a robbing of him of his Dignity and Prerogative it is an Act of Violence done against his Soveraignty an audacious intruding into his proper right and a violating of the Law and Decree of Creation for one Person or one People to assume to themselves Power Authority and Government over other Persons and Peoples in Commanding and Imposing in matters Spiritual over their Consciences in the Worship and Service of God and it is such an abomination against the Creator both in the Cause and End of it That he will arise and take Vengeance upon it and he will ease himself of all such his adversaries Again It is contrary to the Law of Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among the sons of men by order of Creation which God appointed to be among them and by Imposing in matters of Spiritual concern as aforesaid that Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among men decreed in Creation is broken and confounded and disannulled among them by reason of the same and Nations and Kingdoms hate and contend one with another Neighbors and Brethren cannot agree but fall into strife one against another Kings and their Subjects Rulers and their People are in discord debate Disobedience and Rebellion one contrary to another by reason that Liberty of Conscience in Worship and Duty to Godwards is wanting in the World and Impositions and force by outward Authority in that Case are prevailing and in Power And thus the Law of Love Unity and Concord Decreed in Creation is violated despised and made voyd and hatred divisions strifes and discords intraduced in its room and abounds in the Spirits and visible actions of the sons of men through the World to the woful effects of killing persecuting and destroying one another Nation of Nation Neighbours of Neighbours and Kings of their Subjects occasioned and grounded upon this thing as the Foundation of the same to wit Imposing by force upon Conscience in matters Divine Wherefore not onely against God is this evil extended to dishonour and disgrace him as is shewed but against man also is this evil and mischief in the effects of it reached forth as ye have seen and the Law of Creation is violated both in respect of Creator and Creature It is in its cause and ground so evil in its works and effects so wicked and mischievous and in its end so provoking and damnable and all this both in respect of God and man that I have not yet Comprehended the height and depth thereof though my Spirit from a Child hath often entered into the serious Considerations of this thing with mourning and sorrow because of it and with testimony and abhorrance against it and at this hour I am a sufferer in body and Spirit because of the same Carnal Imposition upon Conscience in Spiritual things wo unto it my Soul hates and my God will Plague in his season If I should study in searching to find out and to discribe all the evils mischiefs and wofull Inconveniences and effects of this Gulf out of which they ascend I might make this Epistle a large Volumn but since that I have elsewhere written about this matter I shall now Contract this with the saying of the Apostle This Mistery of iniquity doth work untill he be taken out of the way Yea this Imposition upon Conscience opposite to perfect Liberty in the exercise of the same is the onely Main Material Support Prop and Defence of the Kingdome of Antichrist throughout the World at this day and whomsoever as are friends hereunto they are friends to him and they love his wayes and are subjects of his Kingdome and are rebellious against Christ and to his Kingdome they are Enemies Wherefore my heart and soul saith within me would to God I had such a gift of Demonstration by Pen or Tongue and that the same were so forcible and Efficacious to awaken every soul to an abhorrance and dislike of that Spirit Principle and Practice of Imposition upon Conscience that there might be a total turning from the Kingdome of Antichrist which Consists of Falshood Darkness Sin and Enmity of Bondage Oppression and cruel Impositions to the Kingdome of Christ Jesus which Consists of Truth Light and Righteousness of freedome and perfect Liberty in Soul and Spirit Which Kingdome and Government the Lord of Heaven and Earth will promote and Exalt in the Kingdomes of this World which must become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of His Christ according to Promise It hath ever been my Iudgment That want of Liberty and free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters and the Contrary Imposed by worldly Power and it remains still with me That this is one main Cause of the woful Distractions in Kingdomes of the unsetledness in States and of many evil Consequences abounding in the Governments of the World and also the Cause wherefore the God of Heaven is angry and provoked
of the Popes Maxim's viz. that when he sees the Spiritual Weapons are not sufficient for him then doth he fly unto the carnal therewith to help himself Int Duiiâ—se 244. And others have been and are of that opinion That Religion could not be preserved without the Magistrates Sword therefore understood they that they were to be cryed unto for help as many do now But Ireneus Philaletius said That this was but a humane invention of the Natural understanding which would gladly change the Nature of the Church of Christ but it is in vain said he The States of Holland said That the true Ministers of Christ who did perfectly trust in the Lord had no External Sword nither did they call unto any civill Power for Protection but they used the Sword of the Spirit which is the living Word of God with which they defended the Church c. vide urede Handel van Colen Pag. 198. Barnardus said That the Kindome of Christ was Spiritul and as it was builded by Spiritual Vertues so was it spread preserved and established with Spiritual Weapons for its Enemies were and are Spiritual Eph. 6.11 2.2 Lactantius said If you will with blood with evil and with torments defend the Worship it shall not thereby be defended but polluted Lib. 5. Chap. 20. The Apostles had not the assistance of Emperours Kings Princes nor Lords but had even the whole World against them said a certain Wise Man wherefore how can this stirring up and instigating of Magistrates be Evangelical or according to the Gospel Or how can this work of tumultuous Teachers bring honour to Gods Word and his Truth Who hath heretofore defended the Church of Christ was it defended by Pilate Or was the Church of the Apostles no Church What coercive Power or outward Protection had they Or what external Power or outward defence had their Church in the Beginning And cannot the true Church now subsist with that which she had in the Begining And it is evident that many who have suffered much Persecution for the exercise of their conscience have been thereby strengthened and have therein multiplyed therefore it is apparent that the fruit of Persecuting to death in matters of Religion is wholly contrary to the determination of Persecutors Castellius said That Paul strove with Spiritual Weapons and thereby overcame hundreds but we alas said he are together by hundreds to put to death one single man and appear for Christ with fleshly Weapons to the end that People might understand that we are stripped of the Spiritual Weapons and will have a fleshly Christ. But seeing the Apostles who Planted the Church were satisfied with their Spiritual Weapons it is then evident that they who make use of carnal Weapons confide not sufficiently in the Spiritual which they would confide in no doubt if they had them seeing they are alsufficient as shall appear at the coming of the Lord who will conquer Antichrist his greatest Enemy with no other Weapon then with the Sword of his Mouth Constantinus the Emperour said That it was enough that he preserved the unity of the Faith that he might be excusable before the judgement Seat of God and that he would leave every one to his own understanding according to the account he will give before the judgement Seat of Christ hereto may we stir up People said he not compel them beseech them to come into the unity of the Christians but to do violence to them we will not in no wise Nota Herein was Constantinus much commended because that he tollerated every one to believe and to serve God as he was perswaded in his own heart esteeming his gentleness and mercy more available then severe Proclamations and in this particular he was not deceived Sabast. Frank. Chron. fol. 127. The Christian Religion said the States of Holland is a great Mistery for the furtherance of which God doth not make use of wicked Souldiers nor of Bow nor of Sword but his Spirit and the Shepherds that are sent by him further they said it was not their intention to compell any to their Religion c. CHAP. VII How the Inquisitioners and Clergy have stirred up the Powers to Persecute and what fair pretences Persecutors have had how dangerous it is to root out the Tares before the time and wherein the Ancient Protestants have been more Noble than the Clergy now IT is a common thing with many to accuse those with troubling of the Churches peace and with disturbing of the publick peace said a certain wise Man who teach otherwise than the Church or who speak any thing against the Clergy or dispute with any of their restless Priests or hold their Meetings apart though it be in all civility and stilness In like manner hath the Inquisitioners and the Clergy said he stirred up the Emperour the King of Spain and of France to terrible Persecution laying it upon their consciences to quit themselves severely against the Hereticks if they would escape the Lords reproof though most of their Subjects and Land should perish And when the Clergy had prevailed with them then they declared in their Proclamations and Edicts That their intent was onely the Glory of God and the Salvation of the Hereticks Souls and to prevent the peoples being drawn to any cursed Error or Sect but that they should continue in subjection and in the old observations of the Mother the H. Church and H. Christians Faith and Sacraments as appears from their Proclamations Annis 1538 1546 1560 1564. Erasmus said How that sometime it cometh to passe that those who with more fury then with good understanding carry on matters do sometime not only root out the Wheat with the Tares which Christ hath forbidden but also in place of rootting out the Tares do root out the Wheat seeing they Judge before they have understanding or will make that odious which is well spoken by perverting of it And they will have that to be a Zeal for Religion and a detesting of Heresie when it is the onely destroying of Godliness and Unity Chron. van de Rel. urijh 2 Deel pag. 33. Augustinus said Some disturbed the peace of the Church while they went about to root out the Tares before the time and through this Error of blindness said he are they themselves seperated so much the more from being united unto Christ. Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his hands with blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion Erasmus said That the World had common Lawes for to punish offenders but the Christian meeknesse must rather use diligence to reform men then to judge them In the begining of Reformation saith the Chron. the Church gloried of the Truths Weapons and desired that those that had any thing to say concerning their Doctrine should freely reprove them and they would defend the same with
of War Therefore hath neither Christ himself nor his Apostles taught men to take up Armes against them that were reprobated from the Faith as if that were an external means for to rout out Errors for the receiving or spreading of Religion which is through fear of Weapons is more like unto Mahometisme than unto the Christian Religion Stephanus the King of Poland said Our desire is that all the Cities and Inhabitants did praise one God unanimously but it hath been declared that in the latter Dayes Offences shall come therefore will not we compel any to believe said he but will keep Peace and concord among the Contentious that contend about Religion and defend every one in his Religion Chronicle of the Tyrants second P. pag. 1326. CHAP. IX How Iudas Proselytes now do follow his footsteps How Confusion and Uproar is not occasioned in a Land through a just Toleration but rather through want of it And how none ought to be Banished about Religion THe Histories sheweth how that some of the Clergy hath said That the Princes ought to kiss the Son and to use their Power for to preserve and defend Religion against all her Enemies though their Lands should therefore be spoyled But the Son of God hath never taught any man so to kiss him though he was so unkindly kissed of Iudas as many Betrayers do yet in his Members yet notwithstanding Christ nor his Apostles did not seek to deliver Iudas over to the Magistrates but Iudas sought to deliver Christ over to them And so do Iudas Children at this day deliver the true Christians whom they falsly call Hereticks into the Hands of the Earthly Powers And though some say That People of different Opinions cannot live together in a Kingdom without continual contention and therefore say they must that be prevented with Fire and Sword But what though there be vertue and filthiness in a Kingdom good and bad men which are one contrary to the other one must not therefore said a wise Man to prevent it bring a whole Kingdom or Land into Confusion by stirring up the People one against another Again the true Church said he hath never helped her self with Persecution neither doth she use any other Sword than God's Word which she having and keeping the Commands of God prepareth her self for to bear the Cross and to Suffer Persecution but not to bring Suffering upon others Moreover it is evident That in Dutchland Poland and in the Low-Countryes more Religions than one are Suffered and yet there are not continual Uproars and Tumults as some imagine such Toleration would occasion in a Kingdom therefore may we conclude that it is not the Toleration of more Religions than one which produceth Uproar in a Kingdom but rather the untowardness and perverseness of them that seek to obstruct this Toleration Camerarius said That it was groundless and irrational to say that Diversities of Opinions in matters of Religion do disturb the Polity but on the contrary the Polity is disturbed when any man with the Liberty of his Opinion is not contented but will molest and trouble others But some say That every one in matters of Faith are bound to obey the Magistrates under whom they live and to follow them and that they are worthy of Punishment who do it not But let such know saith the Author that they do not only hereby condemn the first Reformed Protestants but also the true Prophets and Apostles yea Christ himself and all the Martyrs and so justifie their Persecutors and Murderers if not then may not the Magistrates now oppress a Church or a Religion as many of the disorderly Clergy would gladly see said he and make the Magistrates believe And it is to be observed how that among the Jews there were many Sects as the Pharisees Esseans Galileans Saduces Samaritans c. who retained many unwholsome Opinions yet they were not so Persecuted as now the false Christians do Persecute one another The History sheweth how that it hath been sufficiently proved That none ought to Banish any about Religion that payed Tribute yea that the peaceable Jews and Heathen ought not to be Banished out of the Land where they were born for that which they have they possess through that right which is common to all Nations and to banish People is said to be directly contrary to the Law of Nature and to the Commands of Love for Kings and Princes so well as others Ought to do unto others as they would have others to do unto them And if they would not be Banished out of their Dominions then should not they Banish others and Innocency becometh them as well as others who ought to do Evil to no man Les Princes qui se sont Gouvernez par douceur clemence conjointe a Iustice qui ont use de moderation debonnairete en vers leurs subjets ont tousjours grandement prosperè longuement regne Mais au contraire les Princes cruels iniques perfides oppresseurs de leurs subjets sont incontinent tombez eux leur estat en peril â—â— en totale ruine c. par N. M. Anno 1576. Those Princes that have ruled by Gentleness and Clemency added to Justice and have exercised Moderation and Meekness towards their Subjects alwayes greatly prospered and Reigned long But on the contrary those Princes that have been Cruel Unjust Perfidious and Oppressors of their Subjects have soon faln they and their Estate into danger or total Ruin N. M. 1576. CHAP. X. The Severity of a Popish Synode The Disposition of the right Christians How Heresie is not slain through the Death of Hereticks and the evil consequence of the Laws which tend to the putting of Hereticks to Death IN a General Synod holden at Rome it was forbidden men to hold any Fellowship with those they termed Enemies of Religion neither were they in any thing to assist them which might tend to the preserving of their Life and great things were promised them that persecuted such and inflicted punishment to the utmost upon them Vide Merula pag. 772. But the true Christians Persecute no man about Religion Socrat. lib. 4. chap. 3. For the right Christians did alwayes deal mercifully with them that were Hereticks indeed and not Tyrannically by shedding of their Blood but Hereticks and Infidels have been alwayes cruel towards the Christians with Persecuting of them to Death When men with the Truth said one slayeth the lies of Hereticks then their Bodies remain alive and their Souls come to be cured but when men put Hereticks to death they do not slay the Heresie but rather both Body and Soul Veritus said Seeing Christ is a Lamb whom you profess to be your Head and Captain then it behoveth you to be Sheep and to use the same Weapons which he made use of for he will not be a Shepherd of Wolves and Wild Beasts but only of Sheep wherefore if you lose the nature of Sheep said he and be changed
Judgement of his wicked and ungodly Enemies but also according to their desire Take Him said Pilate and judge him according to your Law pag. 100. David said That Heaven was given to the Lord of Heaven but the Earth unto the Children of men that is God hath given man Power over earthly matters and over whatsoever belongeth unto Earthly Matters but over Heavenly Matters and these things which appertain unto the Kingdom of Heaven the King of Heaven hath only dominion over Vred hand tot Col. Fol. 137 195. Regula sit morte non puniendos sed Iudex videat et ponderet CHAP. XVII How the Truth is Oppressed through somes Vsurpation How the Protestants have been hindred from Printing of their Books The unjustness of the thing How it hath been the Papists doing who will neither suffer Disputations nor Books against themselves The Cause why And how unjust a thing it is that one should usurp Authority over all the rest c. NOt without Reason are men offended said Calvine when they see the Truth of God lye oppressed with Fire and Sword and that none dare appear to help and defend the same and that Error is so strongly maintained with the Cloak of Lawful Iudgement that there is no Freedom to reprove and amend the same neither will they that have the name of the Supream Authority suffer any thing to be spoken that is contrary to their Institutions and if one reprove or rebuke them and Teach any thing contrary to what they Teach then do they account that to be uproarish when they themselves are the most tumultuous Decl. Chap. 14 15. Further he added That if they themselves did not stir up the Mighty to shed Blood there would never arise so many Uproars among the People And it was Luthers Opinion That those that stirred up the Princes to Persecute about Religion they raised the Uproar Thesaur pag. 679. Likewise the Reformed Protestants complained of being forbidden to Print Bookes and to Sell them as appears from the Chronicles which thing the Prince of Orange held for unfitting a Forcing of Conscience a quenching of Prophesie and an oppressing of the Truth Bor. Chron. second part Fol. 48.47 The Papists counselled the Emperour the Princes and States That they should obstruct Writing and Printing of Books as also Disputing and Preaching otherwise than according to the Interpretation and Approbation of the Church and that the Dispersers of such Books should be Punished Vide History of the Counsel of Trent pag. 42 43. When Tacitus had declared How that the Lords Fathers had thought it good to burn the Books of Cremutius Cordus some of which were afterwards brought to light he said He must laugh at the Folly of those who thought by their present Power they could extinguish the remembrance of them from ages to come for most commonly the contrary happens and when men reprove the glorious Understandings their honour and renown is not thereby diminished but rather augmented Further said he All Kings that have used great Tyranny in such Cases have thereby brought contempt upon themselves and more honour and esteem to the other Vide Annales lib. 3. pag. 22. The Emperour Nero caused the Books of F. Veientio who reproved the Priests and the Council to be burned yet while they were to be gotten notwithstanding the danger they were sought and read but afterwards People were permitted to have them and to read them Nota. When such Writings said he are little esteemed they perish of themselves but when men are angry then they come to be the more manifest for the difficulty in procuring of them sharpeneth the Desire kindleth the Zeal and bringeth the matter into more esteem Pol. 4. Lipsi 6. lib. Fol. 354. The Professors of Leyden said That it sounded strange in their Ears that Men were come to the forbidding of Books and would not suffer them according to their Rights and Priviledges A thing said they for which People have justly exclaimed against the Popish Government for Liberty herein chiefly consisteth viz. that every one may freely speak his Judgment and heretofore it hath been esteemed a mark of Tyranny when People might not speak their thoughts Vide their Remonst Anno 1582. Verily said they further Reason which opposeth all Tyranny teacheth us in the general that the truth can be no more than the Light constrained therefore is it Tyrannical to forbid good Books as the Apostate Iulianus did The King of Spain with other of the Popish Princes will not suffer different Religions in their Dominion nor yet Disputations about Religion neither will they suffer any Books that speak in the least against their Orders and Religion this do many reprove in the Papists and yet would gladly have it so themselves They fear said Lactantius that being conquered by us they should be constrained to give us the hand whereby they sufficiently manifest the desparation of their corrupt Reason seeing they dare not search nor enter into dispute with any because they know they should soon be overcome and so not searching they expel Wisdom and set Violence in its place and being they endeavour to judge those as being guilty whom they know well to be guiltless yet will they not suffer their Innocency to be made manifest as if it were more unreasonable to manifest Innocency than to condemn them that have not been heard But as I have said said he They fear that they should not be able to judge if they heard and therefore Tortour Kill and Banish they the Servants of the most high God that is righteous Men. Lactant. lib. 5. Chap. 1. Certainly said Acontius If the Shepherds once get it so far as that none may oppose them then will they Force the poor People and compel them to receive whatsoever they will Then woe be to us and our Posterity and woe be to all honest People if it once come again so far that the just and equal defence against the Learned should be esteemed Calumnies Wickedness and Crimen laesae Ma estatis Arg. des sat lib. 3. Fol. 97. For the Pope Innocentius the third made a Law That he that presumed to Blaspheme the Pope was to be Punished with death neither was any to speak against him nor against the Church of Rome which were not to be judged by any man Likewise a Synod at Rome made a Decree That none in the World should speak against the Church of Rome and cruelly did they Persecute those that did contrary to their Decree Merul. pag. 783 787 741 748. At Geneva it was also forbidden by a Proclamation that any should speak against Calvin and his Doctrine An. 1553. Anno 1619. There were several of the Clergy in the Low-Country that thought it needful that some Order was taken for the preventing and dispersing of such Books as they thought unfitting If that one Church or Teacher said Castel be only tolerated to reprove vilifie and falsely to accuse all other and that without permitting any