Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	false_a	true_a	worship_n	4,780	5	7.8086	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52706	A letter from a gentleman in the city to a gentleman in the country, about the odiousness of persecution wherein the rise and end of the penal laws for religion in this kingdom, are consider'd : occasioned by the late rigorous proceedings against sober dissenters, by certain angry justices in the country.	A. N.; Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1687 (1687)	Wing N3; Wing L1388A_CANCELLED; ESTC R9450	23,013	34

daily_o do_v involve_v we_o in_o be_v it_o not_o more_o calm_a judgement_n to_o say_v that_o the_o disordinate_a passion_n of_o k._n henry_n the_o viii_o hurry_v he_o into_o those_o cruelty_n which_o he_o commit_v than_o to_o impute_v they_o to_o the_o principle_n of_o any_o religion_n which_o he_o profess_v be_v it_o not_o more_o become_v we_o to_o say_v that_o a_o overzealous_a passion_n of_o fear_n which_o our_o first_o reformer_n have_v in_o the_o time_n of_o k._n edw._n the_o six_o make_v they_o apprehend_v that_o they_o can_v not_o put_v popery_n out_o of_o its_o possession_n otherwise_o than_o by_o force_n and_o consequent_o lead_v they_o unwary_o into_o practice_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o their_o true_a faith_n then_o to_o admit_v the_o charge_n lay_v on_o they_o by_o the_o then_o persecute_a papist_n that_o persecution_n for_o mere_a religion_n be_v the_o first_o protestant_a principle_n upon_o which_o protestancy_n lay_v its_o first_o politic_a foundation_n in_o england_n be_v it_o not_o more_o ingenious_a to_o attribute_v the_o cruelty_n which_o be_v inflict_v in_o q._n mary_n time_n to_o the_o passion_n of_o fear_n in_o that_o queen_n and_o of_o fear_n and_o covetousness_n in_o her_o bishop_n that_o nothing_o can_v secure_v she_o against_o new_a rebellion_n from_o the_o protestant_n nor_o fix_v the_o bishop_n in_o their_o regained_a possession_n but_o example_n of_o the_o utmost_a rigour_n then_o to_o labour_v to_o fix_v those_o barbarous_a cruelty_n as_o a_o principle_n upon_o the_o religion_n of_o the_o queen_n be_v it_o not_o more_o charitable_a to_o assign_v all_o the_o harsh_a law_n make_v and_o execute_v in_o the_o time_n of_o queen_n elizabeth_n king_n james_z and_o in_o the_o several_a succeed_a time_n since_o by_o the_o government_n avowedly_n protestant_n to_o the_o fear_n ambition_n revenge_n or_o other_o frail_a passion_n cover_v general_o under_o the_o specious_a title_n of_o reason_n of_o state_n then_o to_o give_v the_o world_n a_o just_a ground_n to_o charge_v those_o cruelty_n upon_o a_o principle_n of_o protestancy_n this_o we_o must_v do_v or_o which_o be_v as_o much_o to_o our_o dishonour_n we_o must_v give_v a_o just_a ground_n to_o the_o most_o civilise_v nation_n of_o the_o world_n to_o charge_v those_o past_a barbarity_n exercise_v so_o long_o in_o england_n upon_o the_o people_n of_o our_o nation_n to_o the_o cruelty_n of_o our_o english_a nature_n for_o what_o other_o thing_n can_v foreign_a nation_n impute_v it_o unto_o when_o they_o shall_v observe_v the_o same_o persecution_n continue_v for_o near_o one_o hundred_o and_o forty_o year_n under_o all_o the_o various_a form_n of_o religion_n which_o we_o have_v have_v each_o party_n renounce_v the_o cruelty_n to_o proceed_v from_o any_o principle_n of_o the_o religion_n own_a by_o that_o party_n yet_o exercise_v in_o fact_n what_o they_o renounce_v to_o be_v their_o faith._n but_o my_o charity_n do_v not_o rest_v here_o it_o compel_v i_o to_o make_v yet_o one_o step_n further_o and_o since_o it_o be_v not_o to_o the_o dishonour_n of_o our_o nation_n i_o hope_v none_o will_v be_v displease_v with_o it_o as_o i_o be_o very_o persuade_v that_o all_o those_o penal_a law_n which_o have_v be_v make_v in_o this_o our_o nation_n for_o the_o inflict_a of_o pain_n and_o penalty_n for_o matter_n of_o mere_a religion_n have_v not_o have_v their_o original_a from_o any_o principle_n of_o any_o of_o those_o religion_n which_o have_v be_v profess_v by_o any_o of_o those_o power_n or_o government_n by_o which_o they_o be_v make_v but_o aught_o to_o be_v impute_v to_o the_o passion_n of_o those_o who_o make_v and_o cause_v they_o to_o be_v put_v in_o execution_n and_o that_o a_o false_a reason_n of_o state_n or_o zeal_n in_o churchman_n give_v those_o passion_n leave_v to_o work_v even_o against_o the_o religion_n which_o every_o party_n persecute_v profess_v so_o do_v i_o most_o confident_o believe_v that_o the_o true_a principle_n of_o the_o common_a christianity_n which_o every_o party_n own_a and_o true_a reason_n of_o state_n ground_v upon_o those_o true_a and_o common_o own_a principle_n restrain_v all_o and_o every_o the_o respective_a party_n by_o who_o those_o law_n be_v make_v from_o all_o intention_n of_o have_v all_o or_o any_o of_o those_o law_n rigid_o execute_v so_o that_o those_o who_o have_v from_o time_n to_o time_n and_o who_o still_o have_v the_o executive_a and_o interpretative_a power_n of_o those_o law_n vest_v in_o they_o have_v always_o understand_v and_o do_v still_o continue_v to_o understand_v those_o law_n not_o to_o have_v be_v intend_v by_o the_o legislative_a power_n to_o be_v strict_o and_o rigid_o or_o constant_o execute_v my_o reason_n be_v that_o have_v this_o be_v otherwise_o all_o of_o all_o party_n except_o one_o who_o at_o some_o time_n have_v be_v in_o power_n must_v have_v be_v ere_o this_o total_o butcher_v or_o destroy_v and_o our_o poor_a country_n so_o far_o depopulate_v as_o to_o have_v become_v a_o prey_n to_o some_o of_o our_o potent_a neighbour_n for_o even_o in_o queen_n mary_n time_n thousand_o escape_v that_o never_a sle_z and_o have_v private_a meeting_n but_o the_o most_o eminent_a be_v cruel_o use_v i_o know_v some_o there_o be_v who_o have_v impute_v the_o remiss_a execution_n of_o these_o unkind_a law_n to_o the_o generous_a good_a nature_n which_o be_v find_v in_o the_o generality_n of_o our_o nation_n which_o abhor_v cruelty_n and_o have_v always_o a_o compassion_n for_o those_o who_o be_v under_o persecution_n and_o which_o well_o appear_v to_o any_o who_o reflect_v upon_o the_o tenderness_n of_o our_o court_n of_o justice_n and_o of_o the_o generality_n both_o of_o our_o magistrate_n and_o our_o jury_n in_o all_o the_o country_n in_o england_n and_o how_o they_o have_v comport_v themselves_o under_o the_o several_a circumstance_n of_o past_a time_n when_o they_o have_v be_v call_v upon_o and_o provoke_v yea_o threaten_v and_o endeavour_v to_o have_v be_v force_v into_o a_o spirit_n of_o persecute_v other_o there_o be_v who_o have_v take_v the_o great_a unwillingness_n in_o all_o sort_n of_o person_n to_o be_v active_a in_o the_o execution_n of_o these_o law_n to_o proceed_v from_o the_o innate_a zeal_n that_o be_v in_o every_o english_a man_n to_o preserve_v the_o liberty_n and_o property_n of_o their_o fellow_n subject_n as_o well_o as_o their_o own_o and_o that_o they_o have_v observe_v that_o liberty_n and_o property_n be_v never_o any_o way_n so_o much_o entrench_v upon_o violate_v and_o destroy_v as_o by_o these_o cruel_a law_n of_o persecution_n for_o mere_a religion_n so_o that_o every_o man_n consider_v when_o he_o see_v his_o neighbour_n though_o differ_v in_o judgement_n from_o himself_o persecute_v and_o destroy_v for_o what_o ought_v to_o be_v call_v rather_o his_o mistake_n then_o his_o fault_n for_o no_o man_n can_v believe_v against_o his_o judgement_n or_o take_v a_o oath_n against_o his_o conscience_n without_o sin_n that_o though_o this_o be_v his_o neighbour_n turn_v this_o year_n it_o may_v be_v his_o own_o turn_n the_o next_o year_n or_o next_o reign_n and_o no_o man_n life_n liberty_n or_o property_n can_v be_v secure_a in_o case_n such_o law_n be_v execute_v but_o only_o such_o man_n who_o have_v a_o conscience_n fit_v for_o all_o change_n of_o government_n and_o for_o every_o religion_n that_o be_v uppermost_a and_o who_o for_o that_o reason_n be_v as_o unfit_a to_o be_v trust_v by_o their_o neighbour_n as_o by_o the_o government_n but_o though_o i_o take_v it_o to_o be_v very_o true_a that_o this_o natural_a inclination_n to_o mercy_n and_o pity_n and_o this_o real_a zeal_n which_o all_o man_n have_v for_o the_o preserve_n of_o liberty_n and_o property_n may_v have_v be_v great_a help_n to_o keep_v off_o or_o mitigate_v the_o severe_a execution_n of_o these_o law_n of_o persecution_n for_o mere_a religion_n yet_o when_o i_o well_o consider_v the_o great_a power_n and_o influence_n which_o the_o supreme_a authority_n always_o have_v upon_o the_o subject_n and_o particular_o upon_o all_o the_o magistrate_n in_o general_a who_o be_v always_o person_n nominate_v and_o appoint_v by_o the_o supreme_a authority_n and_o must_v be_v therefore_o suppose_v to_o be_v such_o in_o who_o the_o supreme_a authority_n always_o confide_v as_o to_o the_o due_a execution_n of_o what_o the_o supreme_a authority_n intend_v to_o have_v execute_v i_o think_v it_o will_v natural_o follow_v that_o a_o forbearance_n of_o the_o rigid_a execution_n of_o these_o law_n aught_o to_o be_v chief_o impute_v to_o the_o religion_n and_o true_a christian_a policy_n of_o the_o supreme_a authority_n and_o we_o ought_v to_o believe_v that_o though_o a_o false_a reason_n of_o state_n do_v sometime_o permit_v humane_a frailty_n to_o make_v such_o law_n as_o be_v contradictory_n to_o the_o true_a law_n and_o principle_n of_o

that_o very_a religion_n which_o those_o person_n profess_v by_o who_o those_o law_n be_v make_v yet_o true_a religion_n and_o true_a reason_n of_o state_n always_o keep_v those_o person_n from_o intend_v to_o have_v those_o law_n rigid_o and_o severe_o execute_v i_o will_v confirm_v this_o by_o one_o single_a instance_n of_o the_o high_a nature_n and_o that_o not_o in_o the_o best_a of_o time_n the_o last_o popish_a priest_n that_o be_v put_v to_o death_n in_o england_n for_o be_v a_o priest_n of_o the_o romish_a church_n be_v put_v to_o death_n in_o the_o time_n of_o cromwell_n i_o suppose_v we_o be_v not_o to_o doubt_v of_o the_o passionate_a heat_n which_o inflame_v those_o who_o be_v then_o in_o authority_n against_o the_o papist_n and_o popery_n they_o look_v on_o the_o papist_n as_o mortal_a enemy_n to_o their_o government_n and_o as_o fast_a friend_n and_o devote_a servant_n to_o the_o crown_n and_o royal_a family_n notwithstanding_o which_o when_o the_o say_a priest_n come_v upon_o his_o trial_n at_o the_o sessions-house_n in_o the_o old-bailey_n in_o london_n and_o upon_o his_o arraignment_n plead_v that_o he_o be_v not_o guilty_a of_o treason_n but_o acknowledge_v himself_o to_o be_v a_o priest_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n it_o clear_o appear_v that_o those_o who_o be_v his_o judge_n do_v their_o utmost_a to_o preserve_v his_o life_n and_o to_o prevent_v the_o execution_n against_o he_o of_o those_o law_n upon_o which_o he_o stand_v indict_v for_o they_o do_v for_o many_o hour_n suspend_v the_o record_v of_o his_o confession_n make_v it_o their_o endeavour_n to_o prevail_v with_o he_o to_o plead_v not_o gluilty_a to_o the_o indictment_n they_o press_v he_o to_o this_o in_o the_o public_a court_n assure_v he_o that_o if_o he_o will_v so_o plead_v his_o life_n shall_v be_v safe_a and_o that_o they_o have_v no_o evidence_n which_o can_v prove_v he_o to_o be_v a_o priest_n and_o when_o the_o old_a man_n age_v about_o seventy_o two_o year_n will_v not_o be_v draw_v to_o deny_v himself_o to_o be_v a_o priest_n take_v it_o to_o be_v a_o deny_v of_o his_o religion_n and_o that_o the_o court_n be_v compel_v to_o give_v judgement_n against_o he_o the_o magistrate_n who_o give_v the_o sentence_n be_v so_o drown_v in_o tear_n upon_o that_o sad_a occasion_n that_o it_o be_v long_o before_o he_o can_v pronounce_v the_o sentence_n which_o the_o law_n compel_v as_o he_o profess_v to_o give_v now_o i_o ask_v can_v it_o be_v presume_v that_o in_o those_o severe_a time_n against_o popery_n those_o who_o then_o sit_v upon_o the_o seat_n of_o justice_n will_v or_o dare_v have_v proceed_v thus_o in_o a_o public_a out_o and_o make_v it_o their_o business_n so_o open_o so_o avowed_o to_o have_v save_v the_o life_n of_o a_o priest_n of_o that_o party_n if_o they_o have_v not_o well_o consider_v that_o the_o maker_n of_o those_o law_n and_o even_o cromwell_n who_o have_v then_o take_v upon_o he_o the_o government_n of_o these_o nation_n do_v not_o in_o truth_n intend_v a_o rigid_a and_o severe_a execution_n of_o those_o law_n which_o be_v for_o inflict_v pain_n and_o penalty_n for_o matter_n of_o mere_a religion_n but_o i_o think_v i_o need_v give_v no_o further_a instance_n for_o the_o proof_n of_o this_o my_o opinion_n whosoever_o shall_v reflect_v upon_o the_o present_a genius_n of_o our_o whole_a nation_n and_o consider_v in_o what_o detestation_n all_o man_n have_v the_o execution_n of_o persecute_v law_n of_o matter_n of_o mere_a religion_n how_o public_o informer_n be_v abhor_v and_o discountenance_v when_o they_o labour_v to_o persecute_v any_o upon_o any_o such_o law_n will_v easy_o see_v that_o the_o whole_a nation_n in_o general_n be_v convince_v that_o those_o law_n be_v never_o any_o of_o they_o make_v with_o intention_n to_o have_v they_o rigid_o execute_v i_o have_v be_v tell_v and_o it_o seem_v to_o be_v ground_v upon_o reason_n that_o it_o be_v a_o principle_n of_o our_o law_n that_o even_o a_o act_n of_o parliament_n which_o be_v against_o the_o law_n of_o god_n or_o against_o reason_n be_v void_a in_o itself_o if_o this_o be_v true_a as_o methinks_v it_o ought_v to_o be_v i_o think_v we_o be_v very_o near_o the_o time_n wherein_o all_o our_o present_a law_n of_o this_o nature_n by_o which_o any_o be_v subject_a to_o be_v in_o any_o measure_n persecute_v for_o matter_n of_o mere_a religion_n will_v be_v repeal_v by_o the_o general_a voice_n of_o the_o whole_a nation_n and_o that_o when_o the_o particular_a person_n of_o which_o the_o great_a body_n of_o this_o nation_n be_v compose_v shall_v have_v consider_v something_o more_o deliberate_o than_o their_o passion_n have_v yet_o permit_v all_o to_o do_v that_o every_o law_n of_o this_o nature_n be_v against_o the_o liberty_n and_o property_n of_o the_o subject_n of_o england_n unjust_a and_o cruel_a in_o punish_v man_n for_o not_o proceed_v against_o their_o conscience_n express_o against_o the_o very_a principle_n and_o rule_n of_o the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n and_o principle_n of_o that_o true_a religion_n which_o every_o one_o of_o we_o pretend_v to_o own_o destructive_a to_o the_o trade_n and_o wellbeing_a of_o our_o nation_n by_o oppress_v and_o drive_v away_o the_o most_o industrious_a work_v hand_n of_o our_o nation_n and_o depopulate_v and_o thereby_o impoverish_v our_o country_n which_o be_v capable_a of_o employ_v three_o time_n the_o number_n of_o people_n which_o we_o now_o have_v contradictory_n to_o the_o rule_n of_o justice_n ground_v upon_o common_a reason_n as_o well_o as_o religion_n which_o require_v that_o no_o man_n shall_v do_v unto_o another_o what_o he_o will_v not_o have_v do_v unto_o himself_o and_o consequent_o void_a in_o itself_o by_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o law_n of_o our_o country_n there_o will_v not_o be_v find_v a_o magistrate_n nay_o a_o common_a subject_n in_o england_n who_o will_v not_o as_o positive_o renounce_v the_o put_n in_o execution_n or_o be_v accessary_a to_o the_o execute_n of_o any_o law_n of_o this_o nature_n as_o he_o will_v renounce_v the_o become_a guilty_a of_o those_o detestable_a sin_n of_o murder_n or_o theft_n but_o until_o man_n be_v a_o little_a further_o convince_v of_o these_o truth_n you_o sir_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v angry_a with_o but_o rather_o pity_v those_o magistrate_n from_o who_o hand_n you_o have_v late_o suffer_v for_o a_o matter_n mere_o of_o religion_n peradventure_o they_o do_v not_o full_o consider_v that_o the_o matter_n with_o which_o you_o be_v charge_v be_v a_o thing_n of_o mere_a religion_n but_o take_v your_o meeting_n in_o a_o assembly_n mere_o for_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n to_o be_v a_o unlawful_a assembly_n because_o prohibit_v by_o a_o present_a law_n as_o the_o poor_a magistrate_n in_o the_o apostle_n time_n take_v their_o meeting_n in_o their_o assembly_n mere_o for_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n to_o be_v unlawful_a assembly_n and_o breach_n of_o the_o peace_n because_o they_o be_v prohibit_v by_o their_o law_n or_o perhaps_o their_o fear_n that_o they_o shall_v themselves_o be_v subject_a to_o a_o forfeiture_n in_o case_n they_o shall_v have_v deny_v their_o warrant_n to_o the_o informer_n make_v they_o fall_v under_o that_o humane_a frailty_n for_o secure_v of_o themselves_o however_o it_o be_v i_o suppose_v you_o have_v no_o just_a ground_n to_o believe_v the_o thing_n to_o be_v any_o effect_n of_o malice_n against_o you_o or_o your_o friend_n and_o if_o it_o be_v not_o than_o the_o same_o magistrate_n now_o their_o fear_n be_v over_o may_v yet_o be_v instrumental_a to_o do_v you_o and_o themselves_o right_o it_o be_v odds_o but_o upon_o a_o strict_a reflection_n upon_o what_o the_o informer_n have_v swear_v the_o devil_n may_v have_v prevail_v with_o he_o to_o swear_v something_o which_o may_v be_v prove_v untrue_a for_o informer_n be_v not_o squeamish_a in_o swear_v for_o their_o own_o profit_n as_o it_o have_v appear_v in_o london_n and_o middlesex_n and_o one_o point_n of_o perjury_n prove_v will_v invalidate_v all_o his_o testimony_n and_o reverse_v all_o that_o be_v do_v at_o which_o i_o be_o very_o confident_a no_o man_n beside_o the_o informer_n will_v be_v displease_v and_o this_o be_v in_o plain_a truth_n the_o great_a reason_n why_o your_o friend_n here_o desire_v to_o know_v all_o the_o circumstance_n of_o your_o case_n the_o certify_n of_o which_o may_v be_v a_o advantage_n to_o yourself_o and_o your_o friend_n there_o and_o will_v be_v particular_o very_o welcome_a unto_o sir_n your_o old_a true_a friend_n and_o humble_a servant_n a._n n._n postscript_n i_o have_v here-omitted_n many_o of_o those_o great_a argument_n both_o which_o other_o have_v use_v and_o which_o may_v yet_o be_v advance_v from_o the_o nature_n of_o this_o subject_a partly_o because_o there_o be_v so_o many_o discourse_n extant_a and_o