what were propounded The famous Monks of Bangor reported much for Industry and holiness were principally eyed it is like in this Assembly The head of their fraternity refusing still to subject themselves by such Courses receive the interminating prophesie of this great Prelate or rather the promulging of his pollicy Pag. 106. Cum aliis locis Si pacem cum fratribus accipere nolent bellum ad Hostibus forent accepturi if they would not entertain peace with their Brethren they should have war from their enemies And not long after it fell out accordingly for Austine now was great with Ethelbert this King in Austines Cause provokes the King of Northumberland to fall upon the Brittains he enters Leicester willing to please the King of Kent and there findes a number of these poor praying Bangorites and slaughters 1200. of them with cruel butchery Austine is doubted in this business by Mr. Speed and others to have wrought more by pride and bloody pollicy then by the spirit of prophesie The action is so much unlike that spirit which once lived in men The Answer of these harmless Monkes was good and very fair without a merit of such wages as was after payed them Pag. 108. And for the piety thereof I shall transcribe it here from Sir Henry Spelman to such as have him not by them Be it known and without doubt to you that we all are obedient subjects to the Church of God and to the Pope of Rome and to every godly Christian a practise now grown absolute with most to love every one in his degree in perfect Charity and to help every one of them by word and deed to be the children of God and other obedience saith the Abbot in the person of the rest I do not know due to him whom you name to be POPE Nor to be the father of fathers to be claimed or to be demanded And this obedience we are ready to pay to him and to every Christian continually Besides we are under the Government of the Bishop of Caerleon upon Uske who is to oversee under God over us to cause us to keep the the way spiritual This was their answer that we are yet it seems unaccustomed to any bruitish impositions and one would think it not deserving so heavy a censure from the Romish Monk nor so bloody an execution by his Abbettors but thus they perisht And thus commonly it goes with them that make the sword the Ruler and the Judge over men in Cases spirituall that do relate to conscience And here it is to be noted by the way as it may be guest at by the answer that these faing Brittains make no mention of any humane statute or Parliament decree that did contain the parts and points of their Religion by which they were to be guided under pain of life or liberty for had there been any such thing in being and had these Monks and Brittains known it as they must needs if there had been such a thing it would without question have been urged upon this great division and remembered to us as well as other things But I will hasten on You may by this perceive Romans Praelates and their power to have set their Iron feet of cruelty upon the neck of Brittish Christians and their Christian liberty Twelve hundred slain in cold blood in the midst of their devotions found unarmed saith the story too because they would not bow their knees to Romes great power and decrees and all occasioned by the whorish compliance of the Civil power and with its listening to those religious Incendiaries and also that the Kings of this fair famous Island began to sip betimes at the whores cup of fornication she was willing to ride and the powers of the earth must help her up or else she cannot and that they may the better do it they must be drunken since which time they have swilled themselves with full draughts of her poysonous liquor and all Nations have been thereby astonished befooled and made to live upon the senseless laws and notions of the beast and false Prophet proceeding from them in this plunged estate for they have lain down together in the wanton bed of worldly lust and glory and thence have been conceived and born those hellish-hideous monsters that have devoured and swallowed up the bodies and the souls of men in Christendome Brittain with a witness The spirit saith that the Ten Kings shall give up their power to the Beast this of England is concluded to be one To give their power to the Beast is to serve its lust and execute its laws according to pleasure and command since the aforesaid Austine displayed the colours of the Romish power in the field of this Nation it is wonderfull to consider how the secular and the Ecclesiastick interest hath combined together and grown up in mutuall claspings and imbraces They have been so mysterially twined and interwoven that it is feared their separation will not be effected the work is so tender and difficult until he come in power and spirit whose the Kingdome is The former persecutions we may call violent Irruptions or breakings in of power upon liberty without the form of Law now the scale is turning and the practise assumes another garb to appear under the Prelates mount the chair of state and are taken in to consult the affairs of the Commonwealth now they have liberty indeed to plot their own designe and to get their wills and sanctions stamped with the Images of law and authority they sit in Parliament and have a considerable stroke with the Laick Nobles and Gentlemen so that they can easily serve their own interest and obtain their desire upon all If there arise any principle of light and truth like to do their Kingdome wrong and to discover the darkness thereof they are at hand to quash them presently by bowing or breaking the fomenters thereof they 'le make them stoop or stagger to the grave and they can do it easily either by laying open the Jus Divinum of their holy Church whose Canons are so sacred they must not be touched or by insinuating into the Magistrates breast Clavis Apocalyp pag. 98. which hath been commonly open enough to entertain that inthralling Maxime of the reason of state and then present a subject to imploy it upon as the keeping up of our interest abroad with forraign Princes or the like from this unhappy marriage of these two fair Interests that we have mentioned have proceeded all those statute Laws by which they have taken cognizance of and undertaken to determine what is heresie and error with the severall Punishments for such as shall thereby be made or found guilty Herein they have but served the designe of the great mysterie Babylon The Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth for the rules were framed within her whorish heart they did but creep out at the mouths of our English Kings and Parliaments
Thunders This amongst other things began to breed a difference between that great Councel and the Army under the Command of Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX which was reported to be made up in much of sectaries and men of Heterodox Opinions which the Scotch and English National Ministry could by no means brook The English Sectarian Army is declaimed against by the Scottish Orators and it was so irksom to many Preachers here that it led them frequently beside their Texts wherein they dealt not so much by solid Argument to cry Errors down but by calling on the civil Magistrate to cut the erroneous off nothing was more pleasing to them then to think and talk of Imprisonment Exile Death for Sectaries The Land of their Nativity was not fit to hold them any longer one might have thought that the Heresie of PYTHAGORAS his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or transmigration of souls was revived now for the Prelacie was and would it were not still visibly rising in the Presbyterie These clamors thus ventilating themselves in fire and Pillars of smoke began to suggest thoughts in the Army that the Parliament the Presbyterian Interest declined their first Principles for the securing of their own and the Nations freedom of which Liberty of Conscience was no small part as will appear ere long The Trumpets of the Army also begin to sound and they made better musick then they have done of late Mr. SALTMARSH puts life into SMECTYMNUUS and groans again he dedicates the work to the Parliament Groans for Liberty ANNO 1645. Let it be read again t is a good Lesson for the present times and because it looks so much towards my present purpose with so fair an aspect as also because it may probably be thought to be the then mind of more and greater then himself I will here insert one passage from him Consider Epistle to the Parl. ibid. speaking to the Parliament whether in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ any other Scepter should be lifted up then that golden one of his own and whether if there be a Kingdom of God if Jesus Christ be the Law-giver and the spirit of Christ the interpreter of these Laws and this Kingdom of God within the throne of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Lord Jesus any other power should rule any other Scepter any other Laws or any other sit down in that throne which is only the throne of the son of David whose throne is for ever the Scepter of whose Kingdome is an everlasting Scepter Thus much he And would this have been spoken by him that was the Generals Chaplain in such a publike manner at least except it had been the sense of the Grandees of the Army or the most prevalent part of them Agen These Coercive courses sought strongly to be used in Reformation of Religion fill'd Mr. Dell with breath enough to sound out his Right Reformation Dell's Right Reformation Anno 1646. so called in opposition to the other way which was presented both to the Parliaments ears and eyes to the house of Commons at least wherein the power of the Magistrate is excluded from the work as much as we would have it and he is styled an Attendant to both the Generals in the Army These with many other of the same Sect did in their places in this juncture of time Title page to his Sermons endeavor much to counterplead Presbyterie and to prevent any rigorous course in matters of conscience to be put in ure by the Parliament by a new Law for the old Statutes smelling so much of Popery and Prelacie were withered long since I mention these men not so much for what as when they spake and whose they were The Armies Declarations and Remonstrances themselves in pretence at least Armies Remostrance August 19. 164â— pag. 4. for what end the great God knows and will judge gave very fair and promising hopes unto all men that their faces and their hearts were set towards the maintenance and vindication of the Kingdoms Liberties and in special of conscience by which the eyes of the best seeing in the Nation were turned towards them in which work of theirs Mr. Cook a man well thought on by the Grandees of the Army as by his after-imployment doth appear He I say gives encouragement to them and endeavors much to fire their Resolutions for the effecting of this Work I shall repeat some words of his and so leave this And to the purpose before mentioned he brings in the Lord Jesus speaking to the Army upon their jar with the Parliament Thus with other things did I preserve you from active Martyrdom that you should bring your selves to passive Redinte gratio Amories pag. 84. Would not I have taken your lives as kindly from you at Nasâ—by Bristo c. as if after disbanding you should be imprison'd and put to death for Hereticks and Schismaticks Is not my Kingly Government as precious to you and as well worthy fighting for as my Priestly Office c. And pag 85. to the same purpose Hath God preserved you hitherto in times of War to be insensibly destroyed in times of Peace Was not your Commission to fight for Laws and Liberties whereof Conscience is the greatest Hath not the Kingdom sufficiently dishonored Religion formerly in the Bishops time but must they now under a pretence of uniformity seek the life of her children and of Religion it self Do they not aim at the life of Religion which is the heart of God and the lives of his children which are the Apple of his eye The Mercunalists at Court did but strike at the Letter of the Law in some things but these Phaëtons would set all on fire and aim at the Power of Religion the very life of our Laws whose humors are so corrupt that the least scratch turns into a gangreen Thus much from Mr. Cook and 't is pity his Language is so adaequate unto these Times This is enough to shew what the then thoughts of the Aymy men were concerning Liberty of Conscience Their means that we may go on with other prov'd as a hand clapt upon the mouth of that persecuting Spirit whereby its burning breath could not break forth to do much mischief yet in this doubtful and disputing time endeavours were not wanting to cast the seed of persecution into the Parliament 't is done not so much by a forc't ravishment 't is thought as by a willing prostitution for they had now forgotten their Virgin-dayes and glory The Parliament grows pregnant and at last brings forth that bloody and destroying Monster whose heart is as flint and whose teeth as iron that is able to cast down and trample on any serious Christian in the World that sees any thing beyond the Tradition of their fore-fathers I mean that Ordinance of Lords Commons against Blasphemy Heresie c. the unnatural off-spring of such a Parliament that did once assert and vindicate the peoples Liberties
Country with more passages not here to be inserted How lyable these expressions given by way of glosse upon the Government or that part of it are to be wrested according to the advantages of will time and persons let any man that hath a minde to see what he saith behold and judge But these Interpretations will serve well to gratifie the interest of the Clergy who many of them long to see their Brethrens flesh frying at a Stake but how serviceable they will prove to the Reformation of Religion and the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus a little time I trust wil manifest But let us see in brief whether this sense of his Highnesse upon that part of the Instrument concerning Religion doth agree with himself and whether the Instrument will rationally bear such an interpretation For the first I will remember such passages relating to this purpose wherein he hath appear'd joyntly in concurrence with others and such wherein he hath stood singly by himself and I fear we shall finde the Protector fighting against Oliver Cromwell in his former respective capacities and titles And besides those things hinted at and referred to pag. 36. c. that do bespeak the Armies sense wherein the present Protector had no little sway I will with as much sparingnesse as is convenient mention but a few more First then not to go 〈…〉 backwards let us view that Remonstrance spoken of but now pag. 20. where declaring the interest of the Parliament and opposing it to that of the Kings they say it is To protect and countenance religious men and godliness in the power of it to give freedome and enlargement to the Gospell for the increasing and spreading of light amongst men to take away those corrupted Forms of an out side Religion and Church-Government whether imposed without Law or rooted in the Law in times of Popish Ignorance or of the Gospels dimmer light by means whereof snares and chains were laid upon consciencious and zealous men and the generality of people held in darkness superstition and a blinde reverence of persons and outward things fit for Popery and slavery where by the way I would observe first that in the judgment of those Remonstrants there may be tyrannie over mens consciences without Law Secondly That such tyrannie was rooted in the Law in times of Popery or the Gospels dimmer light and so by consequence ought to be expung'd out of the Law again it being but an innovation They say further That the interest of the Parliament is ' To take away or loosen that dependance of the Clergie and Ecclesiashical affairs observe this well upon the King and so upon the Protector and that interest of the Clergy in the Laws and civil affairs which the craft of both in length of time had wrought for each other which several say they were the proper subject of the Reformation endeavored by the Parliament and so of right ought to be endeavoured still Dâ—th not this manifestly say That Liberty of Conscience is a Legal Right which the great Councel of the Kingdom was to assume as their Interest to maintain against the Kings which they bring in afterwards in opposition to this And can it be imagin'd that the present Protector who was then Lievt General to the Army did not consent to this Or could it be done without him I will cite one passage more in this page 66. where they speak of a certainty for future annual or Triennial Parliaments with Provision among other things for future clearing and ascertaining of the Power of the said Representatives to be done by an Agreement and therein to be declar'd that they have and shall have the supream Power and Trust as to the highest and final Judgement in all civil things without further appeal to any created standing Power Why I beseech you is this limitation in all civil things put in if we may not conceive that it was the minde of this Remonstrance and the contrivers of it and consenters to it that things spiritual and relating purely to conscience should not at any hand come under the cognizance of the Parliament or any after created or establish't Power whatsoever under it Are we gotten out of the hearing of this must it not reach us now nor be of no use to us or was it intended to draw in religious men to serve the turn of some men at a pinch and afterwards to cast them out and persecute them as thieves and robbers doubtlesse there is one that ruleth in the Heavens there is a God that judgeth in the earth I might say again that that Common Liberty and Publique Freedom so much contended for in this and all the Armies and that long Parliaments Declarations c. and made that the ordinary Dialect of every page almost in them doth indisputably involve this of Conscience I am countenanc't and justified in this assertion by these passages that we made to speak here out of this Remonstrance as may appear to any considerate and unbiast man in the world Come we from this to the Armies Agreement of the people mentioned erewhile and we shall find it speaking very plain and home to the purpose in hand whereby it may be noted by the way that those passages of the Army concerning Freedom or Liberty of Conscience were no sudden raptures or soon-vanisht flashes but constant and setled thoughts and so the more wonder that they should be more deleted or blotted out in any They say in general pag. 24. more plainly then before in the Remonstrance That the Representatives have and shaell be understood â—o have the supreme Trust in order to the preservation and government of the whole concerning all natural or civil things but not concerning things Spiritual or Evangelical clearly intimating that they conceived it no way tending to the preservation government of the whole but rather the clean contrary for the Representatives Power to extend unto things Spiritual and Evangelical and to take cognizance of such How comes it to be otherwise now Again they agree pag. 16. After an absolute excluding of any compulsive means or courses for the confutation of Heresie Error c. if I understand what I read That such as professe Faith in God by Jesus Christ however differing in judgement from the Doctrine Worship or Discipline publikely held forth shall not be restrained from but shall be protected in the Profession of their Faith and exercise of Religion according to their consciences in any place except such as shall be set apart for the Publique Worship where wâ— provide not for them except they have leave so as they abuse not this Liberty to the civil injury of others or to actual disturbance of the publike Peace on their parts Nevertheless it is not intended to be hereby provided That this Liberty shall necessarily extend to Popery or Prelacy and that all Laws Ordinances Statutes and clauses of any Law Statute or Ordinance to the contrary of this
there grew the wilde and stinking weeds of Heathenish Idolatry were of another and more heavenly or spirituall nature if we may say what they did and how they laboured here by what Paul did in another place 1 Cor. 2.1 And I Brethren came not to you with excellency of speech or wisdome much less with the out-stretched arm of humane power to force them declaring to you the Testimony of God nay he shakes off the sword of man as nothing indeed to effect that conquest which he and all the primitive leaders were labouring to obtain 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnall observe but mighty through God Carnall weapons are here excluded as heterogeneous for kind and as ineffectuall to accomplish and to bring about the great design of God in converting men to the faith of the Gospel or in keeping them there and when he arms the Christians against their adversaries and such are errors and heresies too he girds them not about with the civill sword not a little of that here but covers them with the Helmet of salvation and teaches them to buckle with the sword of the spirit Eph. 6.12 16 17. By this we may conclude that the instruments of violence were not nor were to be promoters of the blessed Kingdom of the Lord Iesus in those dayes Who they were that first began the heavenly plantation here is much uncertain nor doth it lie much in our way to inquire Sir HENRY SPELMAN that great Antiquary who set himself to lay open the mouldy records of the British Ecclesiastick affairs exposeth much but modestly concludes without a certain Demonstration who ere they were as I conceive But through divine providence hither they came and it may pass for certain that they found the Nation as Paul found Athens Acts 17.16 wholly given to Idolatry now if it be the part of a King to cut off such as speak against the God of the Country how came they where they were to set footing safely on this shore or being a land and declaring the end of their coming as no doubt they would be working presently what was the reason that they were not thrust through with a dart or fired at a stake Did the present Governour neglect his duty or suffer his sword to remain asleep unsheathed in its scabberd when he should strike But some will say he was a Pagan and 't was the Gospel that was now proclaimed against which he must not draw 2 King 18.4 Especially the Idolatrous Priests if they had ground in the Law of the Land yea but this Gospel serves the Countries gods as Hezekiah did the Images and Groves it plucks them up root and branch and burns them with fire and what must the Magistrate do now The gain-sayers among the people might probably complain to their Magistrate that the heart-strings of their Religion and the Worship began to break and the sinews thereof crackt in these new flames here be men and strangers and foraigners too belike they were that turn our Images upside down and draw away the people yea and speak against thy God O King Now if it be the proper office of the Magistrate also to determine and interpose with his sword then of the present Magistrate for in this case we are taught by him that hath set up or rather uncovered the bound-marks of liberty of Conscience Antient bounds or Liberty of Conscience pag. 15. and excellently contentended for them with a parenaetick to the then Parliament c. for their due observation and continuance I say we are taught that that which belongs to a man as a man belongs to every man for quatenus ad omne are terms adaequate and convertible And if the case be thus what had become of those poor hearts that travelled so far and adventured themselves upon the surges of the Sea to bring the truth and peace home to our doors and scape that danger Now the vengeance of the Magistrate must not suffer them to live A sad requitall for so great a good brought hither on the wings of so much zeal and love The Magistrate believed it then reasonable enough for men to have their freedom about divine things if they levelled not their opinion at the disturbance of the civil peace which he was bound to keep but I must wave the handling of the point in Law and Argument that hath been done before beyond what I can do by far 't is matter of fact that I would touch at and condole the errors there If Sir HENRY SPELMANS glass be clear enough with that he fetches in Speeds Chron. pag. 73. to look upon these remote times and actions therein and fluent Mr. SPEED inclines unto his Authors much we may conclude we see the Gospel here in ENGLAND preacht and received in the Government of Arviragus he was a stout and hardy Souldier and could not well endure the Romans Tax and Tyranny which cost him many a blow The people then were grieved much to feel the sword of Conquest cut so sharp into their Kingdoms liberties and the King did storm much yet a moderate and peaceable ventilation of this new-sprang Doctrine of Jesus past without controule except the Romans when they could grew angry for Arviragus protects and in part provides for these new Dogmatists Sir Hâ—nry Spelman pag. 4. who conculcatis Druidarum Superstitionibus Evangelii radiis illuminarent populum the superstitions of the Druides so they called the Idolatrous Priests being trodden under foot a great provocation both to Priests and people they illightened the people with the beams of the Gospel The King is not moved to stretch out his sword though by some no doubt sollicited but they these new sowers had rem apud Arviragum Regem adeo promovisse ut licet cauteriatum avita superstitione eum totum expedire nequeunt quaseum tamen reddunt benignum so promoted the matter with the King that although they cannot wholly deliver him being seared with the superstition of his forefathers a thing that sticks much yet they make him quash mild The King continued Pagan stil yet these Christian labourers receive their freedom without his deadly censures and his sons become their benefactors upon the account of their sanctimony The Law of nature and right reason permitting them to patronize such men that deport themselves in a peaceable and humble manner though of another worship And there is as vast a difference between Idolatry and Christianity as between Calvinism Arminianism Socinianism c. The Heathens may be our Correctors and stain our faces with shame who are less bearing and more cruel then were they yet we finde not the Canons or Constitutions of the Church uttering their voice through the guilded Image of the Civil power nor the Magistrates Authority or arm flashing such as acted barely upon the terms of Conscience LUCIUS a Christian King of Brittain some say the first Monarch that owned that way submits
to the faith here Anno _____ whereby saith SPEED leaning on his Authoritie This Province was the first that received the faith by publique Ordinance it might be by publique Ordinance and yet without penalty for the Countenance of the Magistrate shining upon the way and his provisions for the publique preaching of it Speeds Chron. pag. 78. Spelmans Antiq pag. 12. might very well in after writers swell into the notion of a publique Ordinance less things have come to more in latter times then these And we read that Rex ipse Lucius una cum uxore fidei imbuitur Lavacro exemplo ejus undique concurrentes populi i. e. King LUCIUS himself together with his wife and the people coming together on all sides by his example note that not by any force or at least by any authoritative of Parliamentary Edict they are Imbued or washed in faith's laver I would assert that there was no Heresie or error yet determined so by Law nor no legal persecucution tending to death or other punishment lay open against dissenters in such cases nor no act of King or Parliament for uniformity in doctrine and discipline And by the way we must distinguish between an action lying at the Common Law against Hereticks c. and a violent irruption of a Tyrant or prevailing party against or without law upon such men as are made odious to them because they think or worship otherwise then they would have them the former was not yet in Esse The latter many times sprung up and shed much Christian blood in England as well as other places when the Tyrants pleased to gratifie themselves or others by such cruelty But persecution of men professing Religion though divers from the state therein in many points was not yet established by a Law nor had yet crept into our Brittish Parliaments for Parliaments we may conclude there were imployed and honoured much by the Prince if Mr. SADLER or whosoever he were that wrought the book Intituled The Rights of the Kingdome or c. doth see well through his Authorities nor made incroachments thereby upon the people liberties If there were no better ground one might so argue from the carriages of those that dealt here with PELAGIUS of Bangor Ant. Eccl. Britt pag. 47. of which Sir HENRY SPELMAN out of Matthew of Westminster He saith Britanni cum neque suscipere Dogma perversum gratiam c. The Brittains when they would not any longer endure His perverse opinion in blaspheming the name of Christ neither could they in disputation refute the subtilty of his wicked perswasion they lighted on this wholesome advice to seek the aid of a spiritual war from the French Bishops which war is not called spiritual because they were to fight for spiritual things but because they must contend with spiritual weapons the other not being able to reach the understanding or the Conscience and for this they re-inforce a disputation at a Councell or a Synod where were vulgar men and women Laicks to hear the business No talk of humane Authority or the Magistrates sword that served well to keep the peace that these Dissenters might not run one upon another but we finde it here imployed upon no other service And a little after upon the breaking forth of Pelagianism again they call for help it comes and praedicationis Antidoto vulnera sanat Incredulitatis c. He meaning Germarius Ibidem pag. 49. heals the wounds by the Antidote of preaching A proper and reasonable application Who had the better or the worse in these contests I care now to know my desire is to see the sword of the Magistrate in its sheath in spirituall things for it is no fit Antidote to be given against dissenting Iudgements in matters of Religion and it is hitherto left out at least in Law But things continued not long at this rate The Clergy begin to aspire to the Civil power to beg its help or else to use it themselves they forgot the wisdom that descends from above The sweetness and moderation together with the evidence of the spirit is in the warre they are willing to be great in the world and therefore exercise carnall arguments and weapons to accomplish what they would and that they may the better rule and satisfie themselves in what they longed for men must be obedient to them and embrace their Impositions in Religion or they shall hear on 't loud enough and to try their obedience there must still be new Sanctions and Canons made to the corrupting of the word of God and Gospel-simplicity Nothing now will please but the confirmation of the Popes authority and Constitutions by a Law and then this Beast will cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast Rev. 13 12. Here is the strength and hour of Temptation falling on the Christian Kings and World and oh how happy might it have been had they resisted this and refused to give their power observe the phrase unto this Beast Rev. 17.13 How much innocent and Christian blood that hath been spilt as carelesly as water on the ground and as barbarously as ever any tyrant acted in this world had been preserved the Kings of the earth should not have been branded with this deep and reproachfull signall That they make war with the Lamb Rev. 17.14 if they had kept within their sphere and profest their own faith in love and tenderness instruments of the best Conquest unto all subjects under them I will touch a little upon one act the first of our English bloody Tragedy under this Head for I wave the persecutions that were acted by the Roman Emperors since which there have been many and of long continuance Those that write in favour of the Papacy report the great father Gregory a holy man Spelmans Antiq. pag. 56. and a great labourer to convert men to the knowledge of the truth for which say they our Brittain is much owing to him He sent Augustine hither sometimes called the Monke with Sanctions and Canons and many orders for the worship of the people and the setting of Church Government with its face towards Rome The Roman favourites much commend the wisdome the piety and sanctimony of this man such graces and such principles if they were his brought forth very bad fruit as will appear Austine arrives with his Companions and is entertained by Ethelbert Anno 596. He labours to bring the Nation under the papall obedience The King though not concluding with his doctrines gives him his liberty and provides maintenance for him and his followers in Canterbury where he was after Bishop and had his See He calls a Synod and the Bishops meet him He commands obedience to Rome and other things They refuse with suspicion of Austines pride and the Synod ended in dislike And t is added Spelman's Antiq p. 92. That the Brittish Church differed from the Roman in many other things also then
as an unnatural vomit occasioned by her poyson the ill effect thereof is to be found upon the minds of most professing men though Protestants at this day notwithstanding Pope and King and Lords Bishops are said to be departed hence being kickt out and spurned at with a furious heel the minds and understandings of most will yet shews us that they have been here for it is hardly distinguishable in most whether that which they profess for truth be setled upon them by the spiritual arm of Christ in light and evidence or by the arm of fleshly power and forcing example of men I say as before that the Magistrates pretended legall cognizance and determination of the errors of the mind in Religion is only by the Statute Law since the great confederacy betwixt Rome and England or of the Civil and Church Interest for the ancient Laws and Customs of this Nation look a little better then to manifest such a rage in Conscience-Tyranny And when I mention Romes confederacy with us let no man puff at this and say that is broken long ago I must confess like wrangling lovers they have quarrelled much and often yet have they loved the same bed of lust and lordliness still though sometimes they lie not there together and it is no hard matter to shew the Beast and false Prophet alive Rev. 19. after the flames have taken hold upon Romes glory and have burnt her down to ashes and if this be so let England look about her for she is not yet delivered as will be made appear ere long This may be applyed to later times then of King Hen the Eight could we but trace the footsteps of this mystery as it hath travelled through the Saxon Dane and Norman times and observe the many mazing turnings it hath made to secure it self as in a laborinth and to put its pursuers to a loss we should finde the pavement of the way to be stained with blood and their proceedings to be full of oppressive cruelty yea the deep Impressions that their feet have made upon our English Nations fundamental liberties by trampling on them and by treading them down do yet stand full of blood uncovered and not dryed up unto this day to the shame of the present Generation which notwithstanding all the claimes they have made and pretences had to righteousness and judgement have not found in their hearts though the present day doth loudly call for it to expiate and cleanse the Land from Ezekiel 29. The Children of Israel were directed by the Spirit of Prophesie to burn all the Instruments of Gog and to bury all the bones of his slain and to appoint men of a continual imployment that they may cleanse the Land yea every passenger that past through the Land if he saw a mans bone Ver. 15. he was to set up a sign at it that the men of continual imployment might observe and bury it So careful was the spirit that the Land might be cleansed of strange flesh and bones Brethren the Rights and Liberties of this Common-wealth have been invaded and overspread by cruel oppressive and insinuating Principles of Tyrannie and State-Engines which like Gog for I shall but allude not interpret have broken down our ancient bounds and so polluted and extreamly disfigured the comely feature and surpassing beauty of our Nations Rights and Laws that an English man can hardly discern their native excellencie and lustre they are hid in so many clouds and made to walk under so many masks of will and selfish humour that the poor Nation cannot see one glimps of what they should in an age when t is our right to enjoy them all with open face continually we do pretend and God hath been willing I am confident to bring it to more then an empty pretence in this age that the heart of this invading Gog is broken and the Arm of his power so shiveld that every man may believe the whole body is dead yet t is not buried the dead Carkass lies in the streets and fields of England and whether there be men appointed for continual imployment to bury the body or no I shall not now dispute I fear there are not yet pardon me if in my creeple-travels I set up a stick by a bone that lies unburied this stincking carrion persecution that if any shall at length undertake the publike Sextons charge they may know they shall not want imployment And there be more remainders of that Tyrant-Host then this that may teach men that have their sense to put the branch to the nose for the sents contagious not fit to be sufferd among Christian people But I proceed 'Thas been enough confest and concluded That this Nation is a free people The meaning is that their fundamentall Laws are such as do declare and keep them free from all arbitrary power and that they cannot be inslaved but by their own consent in their great Parliament or Council so that a subject of England that by Law is not exempted from the Law is free-born How then came we to be under the yoke of bondage and slavery Here is the question indeed the answer and unravelling of which hath cost so much ink treasure and blood to little purpose It was said before that the King and Prelates were long since in their great conjunction from which have proceeded those malignant influences that have so wrought upon the Nations freedome whereby it hath been made to labour for life it being so desperately afflicted in its vitals The Kings power and prerogative have been as a fretting moth and eating Rust that hath been gnawing at the heart of liberty untill they have consumed it And the Prelates rage their Dragon-rage and subtilty hath inspired this boundless Image of the King with so much of their own lust and will that these have ruled the Rost as they say all along and by these means have the pure freedoms of the land been ravisht from it and the minds of men so vitiated and defild that it requires the labour of an Hercules or one beyond him much in strength and glory to cleanse us from those foul Abominations that are committed now by pretext of Law so that this way departed liberty and righteousness for the power of the King and Lords so over-ruled the poor Commons or courted them into a compliance by their subtilty that the Commons durst not or else will not speak or act too much in vindication of the peoples Antient Rights for fear of raising such a storm that might sweep them away like a devouring hail our bulwarks thus shattered and subverted gave a free and easie passage and entrance for those wilde beasts to make a prey of us when they listed to satiate their greedy mindes with our treasure or our blood From hence have issued forth Patents Commissions c. for the erecting of Spiritual Courts and investing of Prelates with power to inthral men in things of Religion against the
these Mrs. of Divinity to take an Oath and did swear to worship Images which was against the Moral and Eternal Law of Almighty God Thus far he A sad President for any men and Powers upon earth to follow in taking cognizance of and punishing of men for Opinion whereby the weight of other mens sins is commonly laid upon their shoulders and I think they have commonly enough of their own and too much for some to bear let not the present Boutefeaus for their own defence object t was ill done of these for they themselves were Hereticks and the Sufferers held the Truth but we are in the right and therefore now there is no such danger for they may be answered first The former Prelates were as confident as any now yea t was their confidence and fierce zeal that put so many honest hearts from time to time into a deadly sweat wherein they left their blood and marrow life and all But secondly Admit that they or these are in the truth as both would have it thought so in their times yet was it not the duty of any King or Magistrate commanded to them by Christ by whom Kings now do reign to force men into his Worship or his Service I say so now for if it were it has been desired long since to be shewn which yet no man can see Nay according to the Laws and Customs of this English Nation Ancient Bounds pag. 23. the clear contrary may be thought to be the duty of the Magistrate and that he was and is to defend the people from such wrongs and infringements of their Liberties for he is sworn thereto and he is to keep the Peace so that the good old Laws of England and the Magistrates the Executioners of those Laws are the Forts and Towers in whom all honest mindes though differing in the businesse of Religion a thing not imaginable to be under censure of the power of man and in reason and Scripture left to the decision of the Spirit and to Christ the Judge are to be safeguarded from the furious persecution of all state incendiaries Before I turn over from this Chapter of the Lord Cook concerning Heresie I shall observe these two things First The boundless license that the Prelates used to take under colour of Law to suppress and quash the non-Conformists informer times that they Phaeton Fablelike by their reignless Fury ranged through the Region of Christs Kingdom plucking the Flowers from his heavenly Crown and Dignity usurping his great Throne as also running through the Thrones of Earthly Princes setting them on fire as they pleased whereby with other places the world of our Brittish Iland was often scorch't with their too fiery Rayes Secondly That the Satute concerning Heresie c. made in q. Eliz. dayes was principally intended to restrain those Irregular Notions and to contract their lawless Rage in a narrower compass so the work look't backward rather then ought besides although the contrivers had not the heart and happiness to cut it clean off and to cast it out for ever as may appear in this place to the Judicious Reader and by the Statute it self as also by the second Part Institutes In Articulis cleri especially in pag. 615. But I am too tedious King HENRY the eighth was a blustering Prince and quarrelled with the Roman Court See the Statute 31 Hen. 8.4 yet Lutherans and others were very odious to the Kingdoms Powers the principle of persecution was kept alive with very great offence to Christianity as all can now believe by those that loved to Lord over their Brethrens Conscience yea the Inquisition reaches to the Kings own Chamber and takes the queen from his side There were six bloody Articles saith Mr. SPEED enacted that made it death to such as held or taught the contrary Who can remember and forbear to melt at English sufferings EDWARD the sixt was a young yet wise and tender Prince our Israels Josiah Speed's Histor pag. 1046. he would not send an Heretick to Hell before his time as may be gathered from Mr. FOX and others yet persecution lived it could not die they kept it alive that knew how to over-awe the Court by cunning Policy for that sate ruling sometimes and enveagling stil the civil Power to unsheath the Sword against dissenters in Religion Who can repeat the Marian bloody dayes without laments Now Rome is called in again to help the doing of what was done too much before England can persecute without the Pope as may be seen above his Spirit is here although unto his Person or his Name we bid defiance But now they flash and lay about indeed The Prelates rage the more because they had little check before and like fire pent in a little break out in desperate flames and the poor Protestants die ELIZABETHS beginning was like water in abundance falling on the Fires all over England it coold and brake them all yet did it not kill or quench the Coals they lay glowing still and were stirred up against Professors still upon occasion because men would not know their liberty The Spirit of Violence lodging still in mens breasts and labouring to bring the Judgements of others to their Girdle And so it went from hence into K. JAMES's Reign t is a continued Line not broken though a little lessen'd for the Puritanes were as Thorns in the Prelates eyes and they were rubbing still to get them out they could not see so well whiles these were neer them King CHARLS follows and drinks in the poisonous Wines the Prelates are as formerly his Cup-Bearer the common people were too much delighted with the sport these made They raged and staggered in this Spiritual Drunkenness Separatists and stucrk at many Non-Conformists till at last they lighted on those three Gentlemen Mr. BURTON Mr. PRIN and Dr. BASTWICK The seat of the Bishops is very high their Authority great and their mindes as cruel They cared not for a Parliament though they had as much room there as any and as much honor The Prerogative and Arbitrary Rule of this King did please them better as being more serviceable to their purpose you have them in their High Commission in the Star-Chamber every where They please the King and he gratifies them with what they like well enough The relation of their proceedings with the three above named is worth the reading * New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny printed Anno 1641. where you may see their Will instead of Law their Tyranny instead of Piety Before we go any further let us look upon what is past with these queries 1. Whether the Magistracie of England hath done its Duty in taking Cognizance of things relating to Religion 2. Whether all present and future proceedings to oppresse the Conscience will not justifie theirs and fill up the measure of their iniquity 3. Whether such cruel dealings with dissenting men do not manifestly shew they had no better argument
with courage But this proceeds from them and it is laid principally by some to the Scottish-rigid-Presbyterian-Clamors with whom the English then had much to do as the Father of it although some neerer home might be affraid t was theirs This childe thus born into the world Gen. 12.16 may be likened well to Ishmael the son of Hagar of whom the Angel said He will be a wilde man his hand will be against every man and every mans hand against him but I must except and hope hee will not long dwell in the presence of the Brethren to offend them The Bishops and that Prelatical Party living in those days who were pretendedly cast out for their oppression might laught to see their former cause so gratified by those that cast them down and they might now believe that their fair houses and their lands made them more guilty then their tyrannie For what Prelacie in England for these fourscore years could have desired more for them to act upon against Dissenters in Religion then this Ordinance Nay I am confident by this through their great subtility they might have made had they been up to act their little fingers now heavier then their loyns were but a little before so easie is this Ordinance like to sit upon the neck of English Christians T is very likely that this new-born-Law would have manifested it self in its true colours presently for those were not wanting that could open it if the affairs of tste Kingdome would have permitted But things were not yet come up to that maturity and fulnesse that some desired and were posting to the Nation was but in a tottering state not yet setled and secured from common enemies both abroad and at home therefore for the better effecting of the work the Heterodox whose hand had been much in the businesse of the war and pretended reformation are in a manner courted still and still retained to plead against the publike Adversary All this while that Ordinance lay Dormant in the Cradle or if it wak't a little it quickly fell asleep again and if it had been strangled there it had been a work not worthy of repentance Passe we from this unto the tryal and the great Catastrophe of King Charls the Bishops and their Jnrisdiction were extinct before the King now follows them being condemn'd as a Prince not fit to rule any longer Who would not imagine now but all usurpations tyrannies over mens persons and consciences subversion of Laws and whatsoever else may be called State-sinnes I say who would not have thought all those to be excluded and damned up for ever except it must be said that the Agents herein slew the persons to inherit their souls their sins and impieties and so become sevenfold more the sons of oppression and arbitrary lust and power then all before them As to the present case of Liberty of Conscience I will here insert one passage more from Mr. John Cook Barrister the Advocate of the Commonwealth against the King Brook King Charls his Case in page 42 speaking concerning the Court of Justice This high Court saith he hath cut off the head of a Tyrant and in so doing they have pronounced sentence not onely against one tyrant but tyrannie it self therefore if any of them shall turn tyrants or consent to set up any kinde of tyrannie by a Law let this be heeded or suffer any unmercifull domineering over the consciences persons and estates of the free people of this Land they have pronounced sentence against themselves Loe here 's the sense of one concerning Liberty who speaks not now in his own behalf but as the Attorney-General of the honest and well-affected in the whole Nation and the Armies servant who were the great Zealots for taking off the Kings head he in this capacity sends all kind of tyrannie in word at seast away with Charles Stuart he could not be ignorant of the aforesaid Ordinance but may be supoosed to believe that the Parliament to whom so great a purge as they cald it was administred by the Army or part of it had those peccant humors corrected wherewith they did abound in passing of that Ordinance and were rendred more healthy and better disposed unto the Nations service in clearing of their Rights and Laws if so good an end could be effected by so bad a means These things past over and gone that long Parliament after its many strange turns fell into an absolute dislike by the Grandees of the Army and having had a part too long t is thought upon the Stage it is dismist and Exit But such acclamations and such ecchoings of joy were made and heard throughout most of the gathered Churches in England as if they meant to sound the Trumpet to some great Jubilee and as if the day of the Nations deliverance from their long servitude and captivity were come such sudden hopes were generally conceived upon the rooting up of that long Parliament that had been pruned much by the Armies sword before but was not likely to bring forth that fruit which some expected whatsoe're it was yet alas poor souls who did not see this to be the foundation to another thraldome Their resoundings upon this occasion were no sooner past but they are seconded by another greater in conceit then the former occasioned now by that strange summons given for a new Parliament which for distinction-sake shall be called the Extraordinary Parliament or to use their own phrase in their Declaration of July 12. 1653. Then called in an extraordinary manner who do there declare themselves the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and so may I and twenty more do if wee have a minde to 't and all to little purpose and we may chance to hear more on it too another day But the Churches look't on 't as an extraordinary blessing indeed that they should hove the sole or at least the chiefest power to elect a Parliament a thing never so much as dreamt on in our English Law-books or Antiquities These Gentlemen thus summoned might have done the Commonwealth better service had they staid at home and endeavor red to engage the honest and well-affected of the Nation to remonstrate the case of the Common-wealth and how far they did assent unto the proceedings of the Army in their actings towards the former Parliament and boldly to have asserted what they did and might justly expect to have done in the present overture of Providence that seemed now at last to call for Righteousnesse once more and common Justice yea seeing now upon the fall of the remainder of that long Parliament the Power and Supreme Trust returned into the hands of the people as the Army men themselves say or conclude it would and ought upon the dissolution of the Parliament in that notable stratagem of theirs their Remonstrance printed in Novemb. 1648. and presented to the Commons they might have done well to have called in question The Agrement of the People in
freedom in Religion both before and since the lifting up of the hand to heaven for a solemn and religious Execution thereof Notwithstanding the clearnesse of the case of Liberty which is as manifest as the Sun at Noon-day the bloody work of Persecution is countenanc't and fomented by Court-Interpretations put upon the aforesaid branch of the Government and to make it passe the better 't is said That such a latitude was never in the minde of the contrivers of that Charter and that they had rather be set quick in a Pit and to have stones and dirt cast upon them to damn them up then to tolerate men of such Opinions By means of which glosses and asseverations the presenters of that Petition for a further declaring of that Ordinance null and void c. were put out of all hopes of obtaining their desires though never so honest and the Prisoner left to prepare himself for the next Sessions in London unto which he had been referr'd But in the mean time comes a party of Horse to New-Gate surprizes the Prisoner and carries him away who at length is sent into the Island of Silly to be there kept a close Prisoner whereby the due proceedings and course of the Law was stopt which is or ought to be the safeguard and the fortresse of every honest Decl of the long Pail Ech. 17. 1647. pag. 17.21 â—um multis alis 'T is to be argued from their denial of the neg voice to the K. K. Char. case by Cook See Sir Edward Cook 2. part of Institutes pag. 45. cap. 29. innocent free-born English man These strange and unexpected proceedings have been most bitterly inveigh'd against and most earnestly opposed in the late King which were made a great part of those hainous evils for which he lost his life and were declared to be contrary to the Laws of England and the Liberty of the Subject And although there may not be pretences wanting to make it passe the better in the observations of men yet hath it been conceived illegal under what pretence soever All men know that know any thing this way that it is one branch of the great Charter of Englands Liberties concerning the King that he promises Nulli vendimus nulli negabimus aut differemus Justitiam vel rectum We will not sell nor deny nor delay Justice or right to no man No man shall be taken imprison'd or disseised or outlawed or exiled or by any means destroyed but by the legal Judgement of his Peers or equals or by the Law of the Land And Sir Ed Cook in his Exposition of this Chapter saith it is the worst oppression that is done by colour of Justice or right or under pretext of doing good It is enough barely to read these words of that Charter the Commentary is worthy to be in the heart of every English man Mr. Saaler commends and closeth with Polydor Virgil in his relation of the businesse of the Lord Chancellor in King Richard's time Rights of the Kingdom pag. 153. who on pretence of the Kings Warrant exceedingly polld the people whose proud injustice was brought down by Parliament and to excuse himself the better he pleads the Kings Command whereat the Historian as Sadler brings him in puft and said quasâ— fas esse jus omne prencipis Jussu rescindere as if the Kings Command might disannul the Law 1. Part Cook Deel pag. 183. The Lords and Commons in that long Parliament in the day wherein Law and Justice was strongly asserted by them against the King in defence of whom therein the Army engaged against the Royal Party declare and publish to the world That it is against the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom that any of the Subjects thereof should be committed or compell'd by the King to attend him at his pleasure but such as are bound thereto by special service And if any Messengers or Officers shall by colour of any command from his Majesty or Warrant under his Majesties hand arrest take or carry away any of his Majesties Subjects to any place whatsoever contrary to their wills That it is both against the Law of the Land and Liberty of the Subject and it is to the disturbance of the publike Peace of the Kingdom and any of his Majesties Subjects so arrested may lawfully resuse to obey such Arrests and Commands Can any thing be spoken more to the purpose Or is not this the Language of all rational men that have heard of Law or Liberty I confesse I am fallen into a road both arduous and difficult I shall deliver my self out of it by a bare quotation from Mr. Frynne who once felt the sharp edge of the Prelates cruel and salvage Tyrannie His case is plain enough and pleaded by himself in Law against his Star-Chamber-Judges to a Committee of that long Parliament New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny pag. 210 211 212 213. appointed almost for that purpose yet because I will not put the Reader to a double charge in purchase I refer him to those Authorities which he there brings in and applies to his purpose not unsutable to ours But 't is observable from all first That the Judges much lesse a Party of Soldiers were not to stay any Processes or Judgement no not by the Kings Commandment Secondly That it was an Article of a very Capital concernment and hainous nature against the Cardinal to grant forth injunctious to stop the common-Common-Laws it being against the Liberty of the Subject whereof see more in the place aforesaid Magna Charâ— pag. 29. I shal not undertake to accommodate these passages to any present it is a work of a tender a touchy nature onely I shall conclude them in the saying of Sir Benjamin Ridyard in a Speech of his in Parliament Let the matters bolt out the men Their Actions will discover them Thus much of the sense of the Government and the Executors thereof concerning Liberty of Conscience and their proceedings therein 'T is easie now to finde out upon what foot of account the Administration of Freedom in Religion stands The Instrument of Government promises and provides for a general Liberty except what it excepts yet there is this Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies endeavour'd to be kept alive and supported to be a check to the Government This Ordinace hath such a vast and comprehensive reach that it is able to draw in the greatest and most considerable part of Christians in England into its clutches and to pierce into the heart of their lives and Liberties for there are none of the Independent or Baptized way but more or lesse do fall into its verge These because they have been and that they may still be serviceable for the carrying on of State-designs shall have a Sanctuary or City of Refuge in the Government whensoever that pursuing Ordinance shall break out after them for the Protector saith They are and shall be tolerated although the Anabaptists were once
shrewdly glanc't at in his first Speech to the last Parliament because they mostly differ but in forms and other circumstantials and here the Ordinance shall be checkt * As in Mr. Kiffins Case c. As for others differing in Opinions or Doctrines of consequence if they chance to quarrel with the Ordinance Currat Lex Let the Law go on they shall have no little Zoar in this Government to save them in their flight and if in the defence of themselves their Pleadings be likely to prove profitable to them for their safety all shall be quasht and stopt presently before issue or Judgement and the Defendants damn'd to perpetual Imprisonment to do them Justice and to save them from the Law In conclusion 't is no more but this That if the Protector pleaseth That Ordinance of Lords and Commons is in force to some and if he pleaseth too 't is not in force to others It was declared to be the Royal Anti-parliamentary Interest to uphold and maintain the dependance of the Clergy and Church-matters upon the K. and greatnesse of the Clergy under him and in all these things to oppose the Reformation endeavoured by the Parliament Armies Remonstrance Nov. 16. 1648. pag. 20. Sir Edward â—ook many times layes down this Rule in several Cases handled by him in his Institutes Misera servâ—tus ubijus est vagum vel incertum And surely nothing can be more uncertain then the pleasure and the will of men what is done to one may when the circumstances of time and persons will afford be done to a thousand yea to ten thousand times ten thousand by the same rule and then what will become of Liberty of Conscience in general if it must lye in the breast or pleasure of man 'T was used to be said That an unlimited Power not bounded by Law and Reason made any King or Magistrate whatsoever a Tyrant in potentia at least though he were the best and most righteous man in the world and what strong and conclusive arguments there have bin given since to discover the error and the danger of that State or Common wealth-Doctrine I never understood I desire to know this one thing How or where it can be shewn in the Derivation and stating of the Magistrates Power as they say in matters of Religion That he hath a right or 't is his duty to give Liberty to this or that dissenting party in Religion for the Profession of their Faith and not to all As for instance Suppose a Magistracie maintains and publikely professeth the baptism of children to be the undoubted baptism in the new Testament â—ubâ—â—ctâ—vè and notwithstanding shall think or make it his duty to give Liberty to those that are adversaries in Doctrine and Practice to that way maintaining the baptism of believers onely where there is an appearing ground to determine a Liberty to this or such alike interest and not to all I speak of such a determination as is made by the judgement of Scripture and Reason and wave prudential wayes here I shall not undertake to answer the Objections of the Adversaries laid in against this Liberty contended for it hath been done already yet if either of these ensuing be urged upon this complaint I will touch upon the Answer Suppose it should be the States conscience to proceed by their Power against what shall be reckon'd and adjudged Error wil you not give them leave to act accordingly I answer Grant the Hypothesis and there is a distinction to be made between a State and a private conscience The State-conscience ought to be regulated by the Light of Law that shines within its proper sphear for 't is one thing to have the conscience directed in its publike and another in its prviate capacity Suppose a Judge scruple the reason of that Law of sentencing men to dye being convict of Theft as * Mr. March's Amicus Rei Pub. p. 105. c. some I think not without cause have done 't is said Thereon the Judge as a Judge if he proceed is to follow the Law according to his Oath yet if his private conscience prove predominant he may quit his place of Trust and resigne And 't is observeable That the Kings of England were sworn to execute their Trust in Rule not according to their conscience for then the Administration thereof had been uncertain but according to the Laws which Laws as it hath been told us before have been binding so far only as they have been grounded upon Reason and made to look towards publike good There is reason enough in the very mention to satisfie any man in this that the private conscience must veyle before the publike and bow downe its self Obâ— But those that differ in their Opinions may conceale their Differences and then they may be tolerated Ans First By such a course as the Objection insinuates there is no considerable evidence given of the indulgence the meekness and gentlenesse of the Government and the ministration thereof for to presume they tolerate is the most that can be said all discovery of the Hetrodox or Erroneous being prevented Now it may be thought that those Articles in the Instrument concerning Religion were intended to represent the Power looking with a milder face upon men of conscience though differing in Doctrine then the former setled Authority had done Again Should all men be reftrained from the publication of their opinions the profession publikely held forth would be in very much out of a capacity for the confutation of the errors in them and no pity and compassion shewed towards the erring conscience at all because if he may continue in silence he may go on in his error to the death the means of his reformation being so far prevented as the restraining of him from the free discovery of his judgment comes to Lastly the Liberty by the objection granted upon concealment of a differing doctrine is no more but what the greatest Treason in the world may challenge from man while it is kept within the compass of a private thought or imagination the powers on earth having no cognizance in that case of the thoughts until they are declared by some overt act then such as erre in the business of conscience may give the objector thanks for nothing in the liberty granted by him in the objection No more of this kind of Replication for the reason given before You see upon what ticklish and uncertain terms the liberty of conscience onceso much asserted See the Remonstrance spoken of before pag. 21. worthy to be read and revived made to draw in the most professing part of the Subjects of this nation to a compliance with the long Parliament and the Army stands his Highness dear friends brethren is but a man and a man subject to like passions with others how soon he may be drawn to give the reins to the Incendiaries of the times who knows How ready many mens spirits are to