a_o seasonable_a discourse_n show_v the_o unreasonableness_n and_o mischief_n of_o imposition_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n recommend_v to_o serious_a consideration_n by_o a_o learned_a pen._n london_n print_v and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o r._n baldwin_n 1687._o a_o seasonable_a discourse_n the_o christian_a religion_n as_o first_o institute_v by_o our_o bless_a saviour_n be_v the_o great_a security_n to_o magistrate_n by_o the_o obedience_n which_o it_o teach_v and_o be_v fit_v to_o enjoy_v no_o less_o security_n under_o they_o by_o a_o practice_n conformable_a to_o that_o doctrine_n for_o our_o saviour_n himself_o not_o pretend_v to_o a_o earthly_a kingdom_n take_v such_o case_n therefore_o to_o instruct_v his_o follower_n in_o the_o due_a subjection_n to_o governor_n that_o while_o they_o observe_v his_o precept_n they_o can_v neither_o fall_v under_o any_o jealousy_n of_o state_n as_o a_o ambitious_a and_o dangerous_a party_n nor_o as_o malefactor_n upon_o any_o other_o account_n deserve_v to_o suffer_v under_o the_o public_a severity_n so_o that_o in_o this_o only_a it_o can_v seem_v pernicious_a to_o government_n that_o christanity_n if_o right_o exercise_v upon_o its_o own_o principle_n will_v render_v all_o magistracy_n useless_a but_o although_o he_o who_o be_v lord_n of_o all_o and_o to_o who_o all_o power_n be_v give_v beth_fw-mi in_o heaven_n and_o in_o earth_n be_v nevertheless_o content_v to_o come_v in_o the_o form_n of_o a_o servant_n and_o to_o let_v the_o emperor_n and_o prince_n of_o the_o world_n alone_o with_o the_o use_n of_o their_o dominion_n he_o think_v it_o good_a reason_n to_o retain_v his_o religion_n under_o his_o own_o cognizance_n and_o exempt_v its_o authority_n from_o their_o jurisdiction_n in_o this_o alone_a he_o be_v imperious_a and_o do_v not_o only_o practice_v it_o himself_o against_o the_o law_n and_o custom_n then_o receive_v and_o in_o the_o face_n of_o the_o magistrate_n but_o continual_o season_v and_o harden_v 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as_o it_o be_v usual_a for_o some_o of_o the_o clergy_n to_o terrify_v the_o inferior_a magistrate_n out_o of_o their_o duty_n to_o justice_n out_o of_o pretence_n of_o loyalty_n to_o the_o prince_n threaten_v pilate_n that_o if_o he_o let_v that_o man_n go_v he_o be_v not_o caesar_n friend_n he_o understand_v that_o they_o do_v it_o out_o of_o envy_n and_o that_o the_o justice_n and_o innocence_n of_o our_o saviour_n be_v what_o they_o can_v not_o bear_v with_o will_v have_v adventure_v all_o their_o inform_v at_o court_n and_o first_o have_v free_v he_o and_o then_o have_v exchange_v he_o for_o barrabas_n say_v that_o he_o find_v no_o fault_n in_o he_o but_o he_o be_v overbear_v at_o last_o by_o humane_a weakness_n and_o poor_o imagine_v that_o by_o wash_v his_o own_o hand_n he_o have_v expiate_v himself_o and_o wipe_v off_o the_o gild_n upon_o those_o alone_o who_o be_v the_o occasion_n but_o as_o for_o tiberius_n himself_o the_o growth_n of_o christianity_n do_v never_o increase_v his_o care_n of_o empire_n at_o rome_n nor_o trouble_v his_o sleep_n at_o capri_n but_o he_o both_o approve_v of_o the_o doctrine_n and_o threaten_v the_o informer_n with_o death_n nor_o will_v he_o have_v stay_v there_o but_o attempt_v according_a to_o the_o way_n of_o their_o superstition_n upon_o the_o intelligence_n from_o pilate_n to_o have_v receive_v christ_n into_o the_o number_n of_o their_o deity_n the_o persecution_n of_o the_o apostle_n after_o his_o death_n and_o martyrdom_n of_o stephen_n happen_v not_o by_o the_o interpose_v of_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n or_o any_o disturbance_n occasion_v by_o their_o doctrine_n but_o arise_v from_o the_o high_a priest_n and_o his_o emissary_n by_o suborn_a witness_n stir_v up_o the_o rabble_n in_o a_o brutish_a &_o riotous_a manner_n to_o execute_v their_o cruelty_n how_o will_v the_o modern_a clergy_n have_v take_v &_o represent_v it_o have_v they_o live_v in_o the_o time_n of_o st._n john_n baptist_n and_o see_v jerusalem_n judaea_n and_o all_o the_o region_n round_o about_o jordan_n go_v out_o to_o be_v baptize_v by_o he_o yet_o that_o herod_n for_o any_o thing_n we_o read_v in_o scripture_n though_o he_o want_v not_o his_o instiller_n apprehend_v no_o commotion_n and_o have_v not_o caligula_n banish_v he_o and_o his_o herodias_n together_o may_v in_o all_o appearance_n have_v live_v without_o any_o change_n of_o government_n it_o be_v she_o that_o cause_v john_n imprisonment_n for_o the_o conveniency_n of_o her_o incest_n herod_n indeed_o fear_v he_o but_o rather_o reverence_v he_o as_o a_o just_a man_n and_o a_o holy_a observe_v he_o and_o when_o he_o hear_v he_o he_o do_v many_o thing_n and_o hear_v he_o glad_o nor_o can_v all_o her_o subtlety_n have_v take_v off_o his_o head_n but_o that_o herod_n think_v himself_o under_o the_o obligation_n of_o a_o dance_n and_o a_o oath_n and_o know_v not_o in_o that_o case_n they_o ought_v both_o to_o be_v dispense_v with_o but_o he_o be_v exceed_v sorry_a at_o his_o death_n which_o few_o prince_n be_v if_o man_n live_v to_o their_o jealousy_n or_o danger_n the_o kill_n of_o james_n and_o imprisonment_n of_o peter_n by_o that_o herod_n be_v because_o he_o see_v he_o please_v the_o people_n when_o the_o priesl_n have_v once_o set_v they_o on_o mad_v a_o complaisance_n to_o which_o the_o most_o innocent_a may_v be_v expose_v but_o which_o partake_v more_o of_o guile_n than_o civility_n or_o wisdom_n but_o to_o find_v out_o what_o the_o disinterest_v and_o prudent_a man_n of_o those_o day_n take_v to_o be_v the_o wise_a and_o only_a justifiable_a way_n for_o the_o magistrate_n to_o proceed_v in_o upon_o matter_n of_o religion_n i_o can_v see_v any_o thing_n more_o pregnant_a than_o the_o concurrent_a judgement_n of_o three_o person_n of_o so_o different_a character_n and_o that_o live_v so_o far_o asunder_o that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o danger_n of_o their_o have_v corrupt_v one_o another_o understanding_n in_o favour_n to_o christianity_n gamaliel_n the_o deputy_n of_o acaia_n and_o the_o town-clerk_n of_o ephesus_n the_o first_o a_o jewish_a doctor_n by_o sect_n a_o pharisee_fw-mi one_o of_o the_o council_n and_o of_o great_a authority_n with_o the_o people_n who_o when_o the_o chief_a priest_n have_v cast_v the_o apostle_n in_o prison_n and_o charge_v they_o for_o preach_v against_o the_o command_n he_o have_v before_o lay_v upon_o they_o yet_o give_v this_o advice_n confirm_v it_o with_o several_a fresh_a precedent_n act_n 5._o that_o they_o shall_v take_v heed_n to_o themselves_o what_o they_o intend_v to_o do_v with_o those_o man_n and_o let_v they_o alone_o for_o if_o this_o counsel_n say_v he_o or_o this_o work_n be_v of_o man_n it_o will_v come_v to_o nought_o but_o if_o it_o be_v of_o god_n you_o can_v overthrow_v it_o lest_o you_o be_v find_v fight_v with_o god._n so_o that_o his_o opinion_n
priest_n can_v not_o but_o observe_v a_o great_a decay_n in_o their_o parish_n a_o neglect_n of_o their_o sacrifice_n and_o diminution_n of_o their_o profit_n by_o the_o daily_a and_o visible_a increase_n of_o that_o religion_n and_o god_n in_o his_o wise_a providence_n have_v so_o order_v that_o as_o the_o jew_n already_o so_o the_o heathen_n now_o have_v fill_v up_o their_o measure_n with_o iniquity_n sprinkle_v the_o blood_n of_o his_o saint_n among_o their_o sacrifice_n and_o the_o christian_n have_v in_o a_o severe_a apprenticeship_n of_o so_o many_o age_n learn_v the_o trade_n of_o suffer_v they_o shall_v at_o last_o be_v their_o own_o master_n and_o admit_v to_o their_o freedom_n neither_o yet_o even_o in_o those_o time_n when_o they_o lay_v expose_v to_o persecution_n be_v they_o without_o some_o interval_n and_o catch_a season_n of_o tranquillity_n wherein_o the_o church_n have_v leisure_n to_o reap_v considerable_a advantage_n and_o the_o clergy_n too_o may_v have_v be_v enure_v as_o they_o have_v be_v exemplary_a under_o affliction_n so_o to_o bear_v themselves_o like_o christian_n when_o they_o shall_v arrive_v at_o a_o full_a prosperity_n for_o as_o oft_o as_o there_o come_v a_o just_a heathen_a emperor_n and_o a_o lover_n of_o mankind_n that_o either_o himself_o observe_v or_o understand_v by_o the_o governor_n of_o his_o province_n the_o innocence_n of_o their_o religion_n and_o practice_n their_o readiness_n to_o pay_v tribute_n their_o prayer_n for_o his_o government_n and_o person_n their_o faithful_a service_n in_o his_o war_n but_o their_o christian_a valour_n and_o contumacy_n to_o death_n under_o the_o most_o exquisite_a torment_n for_o their_o holy_a profession_n he_o forthwith_o relent_v he_o rebate_v the_o sword_n of_o the_o executiner_n and_o can_v not_o find_v in_o his_o heart_n or_o in_o his_o power_n to_o exercise_v it_o against_o the_o exercise_n of_o that_o religion_n it_o be_v demonstrable_a that_o a_o religion_n institute_v upon_o justice_n betwixt_o man_n and_o man_n love_v to_o one_o another_o yea_o even_o their_o enemy_n obedience_n to_o the_o magistrate_n in_o all_o humane_a and_o moral_a matter_n and_o in_o divine_a worship_n upon_o a_o constant_a exercise_n thereof_o and_o as_o constant_a suffer_v in_o that_o cause_n without_o any_o pretence_n or_o latitude_n for_o resistance_n can_v so_o long_o as_o it_o be_v true_a to_o itself_o in_o these_o thing_n fall_v within_o the_o magistrate_n jurisdiction_n but_o as_o it_o first_o be_v plant_v without_o the_o magistrate_n hand_n and_o the_o more_o they_o pluck_v at_o it_o so_o much_o the_o more_o still_o it_o flourish_v so_o it_o will_v be_v to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n and_o whensoever_o governor_n have_v a_o mind_n to_o try_v for_o it_o it_o will_v by_o the_o same_o mean_n and_o method_n soon_o or_o late_a spoil_n they_o but_o if_o they_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o pull_v up_o that_o mandrake_n it_o be_v advisable_v for_o they_o not_o to_o do_v it_o themselves_o but_o to_o choose_v out_o a_o dog_n for_o the_o employment_n i_o confess_v whensoever_o a_o christian_a transgress_v these_o bound_n once_o he_o be_v impoundable_a or_o like_o a_o waif_n and_o stray_n who_o christ_n know_v not_o he_o fall_v to_o the_o lord_n of_o the_o manor_n but_o otherwise_o he_o can_v suffer_v he_o be_v invulnerable_a by_o the_o sword_n of_o justice_n only_o a_o man_n may_v swear_v and_o damn_v himself_o to_o kill_v the_o first_o honest_a man_n he_o meet_v which_o have_v be_v and_o be_v the_o case_n of_o all_o true_a christian_n worship_v god_n under_o the_o power_n and_o violence_n of_o their_o persecutor_n but_o the_o truth_n be_v that_o even_o in_o those_o time_n which_o some_o man_n now_o as_o oft_o as_o it_o be_v for_o their_o advantage_n do_v consecrate_v under_o the_o name_n of_o primitive_a the_o christian_n be_v become_v guilty_a of_o their_o own_o punishment_n &_o have_v it_o not_o be_v as_o be_v most_o usual_a that_o the_o more_o sincere_a professor_n suffer_v promiscuous_o for_o the_o sin_n and_o crime_n of_o those_o that_o be_v carnal_a and_o hypocrite_n their_o persecutor_n may_v be_v look_v upon_o as_o have_v be_v the_o due_a administrator_n of_o god_n justice_n for_o not_o to_o go_v deep_o if_o we_o consider_v but_o that_o which_o be_v reckon_v the_o ten_o persecution_n under_o dioclesian_n so_o incorrigible_a be_v they_o after_o nine_o precede_a what_o other_o can_v be_v expect_v when_o as_o eusebius_n l._n 3._o c._n 1._o sad_o lament_v have_v relate_v how_o before_o that_o the_o christian_n live_v in_o great_a trust_n and_o reputation_n in_o court_n the_o bishop_n of_o each_o church_n be_v belove_v esteem_v and_o reverence_v by_o all_o mankind_n and_o by_o the_o precedent_n of_o the_o provinees_n the_o meeting_n in_o all_o the_o city_n be_v so_o many_o and_o numerous_a that_o it_o be_v necessary_a and_o allow_v they_o to_o erect_v in_o every_o one_o spacious_a and_o godly_a church_n all_o thing_n go_v on_o prosperousty_a with_o they_o and_o to_o such_o a_o height_n that_o no_o envious_a man_n can_v disturb_v they_o no_o devil_n can_v hurt_v they_o as_o long_o as_o walk_v yet_o worthy_a of_o those_o mercy_n they_o be_v under_o the_o almighty_n care_n and_o protection_n after_o that_o our_o affair_n by_o that_o too_o much_o liberty_n degenerate_v into_o luxury_n and_o laziness_n and_o some_o prosecute_v other_o with_o hatred_n and_o contumely_n and_o almost_o all_o of_o we_o wound_v ourselves_o with_o the_o weapon_n of_o the_o tongue_n in_o ill_a language_n when_o bishop_n set_v upon_o bishop_n and_o the_o people_n that_o belong_v to_o one_o of_o they_o stir_v sedition_n against_o the_o people_n of_o another_o then_o horrible_a hypocrisy_n and_o dissimulation_n spring_v up_o to_o the_o utmost_a extremity_n of_o malice_n and_o the_o judgement_n of_o god_n while_o yet_o there_o be_v liberty_n to_o meet_v in_o congregation_n do_v sensible_o and_o by_o stop_n be_v to_o visit_v we_o the_o persecution_n at_o first_o discharge_v itself_o upon_o our_o brethren_n that_o be_v in_o the_o army_n but_o we_o have_v no_o feel_n of_o the_o hand_n of_o god_n not_o endeavour_v to_o make_v our_o peace_n with_o he_o and_o live_v as_o if_o we_o believe_v that_o god_n do_v neither_o take_v notice_n of_o our_o transgression_n nor_o will_v visit_v we_o for_o they_o we_o heap_v up_o iniquity_n upon_o iniquity_n and_o those_o which_o seem_v to_o be_v our_o pastor_n kick_v underfoot_n the_o rule_n of_o piety_n be_v inflame_v among_o themselves_o with_o mutual_a contention_n and_o while_o they_o mind_v nothing_o else_o but_o to_o exaggerate_v their_o quarrel_n threat_n emulation_n hatred_n and_o enmity_n and_o earnest_o each_o of_o they_o pursue_v his_o particular_a ambition_n in_o a_o tyrannical_a manner_n than_o indeed_o the_o lord_n than_o i_o say_v according_a to_o the_o voice_n of_o the_o prophet_n jeremy_n he_o cover_v the_o daugheer_n of_o zion_n with_o a_o cloud_n in_o his_o anger_n and_o cast_v down_o from_o heaven_n to_o earth_n the_o beauty_n of_o israel_n and_o remember_v not_o his_o footstool_n in_o the_o day_n of_o his_o anger_n and_o so_o the_o pious_a historian_n pathetical_o go_v on_o and_o deplore_v the_o calamity_n that_o in_o sue_v to_o the_o loss_n of_o all_o that_o stock_n of_o reputation_n advantage_n liberty_n and_o safety_n which_o christian_a people_n have_v by_o true_a plety_n and_o adhere_v strict_o to_o the_o rule_n of_o their_o profession_n former_o acquire_v &_o enjoy_v but_o have_v now_o forfeit_v and_o smart_o and_o deferved_o suffer_v under_o dioclesian_n persecution_n and_o it_o be_v a_o severe_a one_o the_o long_a too_o that_o ever_o happen_v ten_o year_n from_o his_o beginning_n of_o it_o and_o continue_v by_o other_o by_o which_o time_n one_o might_n have_v think_v the_o church_n will_v have_v be_v sufficient_o winnow_v and_o nothing_o leave_v but_o the_o pure_a wheat_n whereas_o it_o prove_v quite_o contrary_a and_o the_o holy_a 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arrian_n book_n to_o be_v burn_v and_o whoever_o shall_v be_v discover_v to_o conceal_v any_o of_o arrius_n his_o write_n to_o die_v for_o it_o but_o it_o fare_v very_o well_o with_o those_o who_o be_v not_o such_o fool_n as_o to_o own_o his_o opinion_n all_o they_o be_v entertain_v by_o the_o emperor_n at_o a_o magnificent_a feast_n receive_v from_o his_o hand_n rich_a present_n and_o be_v honourable_o dismiss_v with_o letter_n recommend_v their_o great_a ability_n and_o performance_n to_o the_o province_n and_o enjoin_v the_o nicene_n creed_n to_o be_v henceforth_o observe_v with_o that_o stroke_n of_o the_o pen_n socr._n l._n 1._o c._n 6._o for_o what_o three_o hundred_o bishop_n have_v agree_v on_o a_o thing_n indeed_o extraordinary_a ought_v not_o to_o be_v otherwise_o conceive_v of_o than_o as_o the_o decree_n of_o god_n almighty_n especial_o see_v the_o holy_a ghost_n do_v sit_v upon_o the_o mind_n of_o such_o and_o so_o excellent_a man_n and_o open_v his_o divine_a will_n to_o 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have_v so_o unhappy_o