Opposition Defence or Reply how can such clear themselves from being of those who will be Holier than others And how can they reprove that great Wickedness in the Papists of cutting out Peoples Tongues or depriving them of the power of Speaking while they do the same though in another manner Castel cal Chap. 19. With diligence do they hinder so much as they can any Books being Written or Printed against them to the end that they might not be made manifest and if they be Printed that they may not be sold but burned and moreover if any have them such are to be Banished and esteemed as Hereticks Merck-tyck pag. 315. If that some had Power according to their Wills said one all should finally be esteemed and holden for Blasphemers and Hereticks that reprove any Divine of any Error or that is of another Opinion in Points of Religion Chron. vande Rel. uriih 223. But said the Duke of Saexon It would tend to much praise if they by their Doings and Authority did bring it to pass that this Controversie might not be ended with Arms or Weapons but that an orderly course might be maintained which would heal the Sickness reconcile the Church or People and do no Violence to the Consciences of Men. Vide John Sleid. Chron. lib. 10. God's Mercy and Iudgment rationally shewn to England HEar O England and consider the things which the Lord hath done in thee and suffer me a little to reason with thee thou choicest of the Nations and much Renowned among God's People In thee hath the Light Glory and Power of the Lord of Hosts appeared in thee hath the Standard of the Lord been set up in thee hath the acceptable Day of Salvation and Deliverance been Proclaimed in thee hath many Prophets and Hand-maids been brought forth which have gone out of thee into other Nations and thou hast been as a Nursery unto them in thee hath the everlasting Gospel been Preached freely both in thy Steeple-houses Markets High-wayes and in many other Places in thee hath the Way of Life Peace and Everlasting Salvation been made manifest yea in thee hath the God of Heaven thy Creator done many notable and wonderful things And what wilt thou now undo thy self by resisting the Lord by rebelling against Him and by chusing thy own Wayes by fulfilling thy own Lusts and by satisfying thy own Desires by Persecuting and shamefully Intreating the Servants and Hand-maids of the Most High Of which things thou wouldst not have become so highly guilty hadst thou not rebelled against the Light of the Lord which is arisen in thee and resisted his Eternal Power and Counsel which is broke forth in the midst of thee many besides my self lament over thee and the Hearts of many have been filled with Sorrow and Heaviness by reason of thy Degeneration and Apostasie by reason of thy Violence and Cruelty and by reason of thy Persecution and Oppression Oh! alas for thee how shalt thou avoid the Wrath that is to come or escape the Hand of the Lord yet thy Destruction will be of thy self and thy Iniquities the Cause of thy Judgement But hear and consider and suffer me to reason a little with thee Was thy King reduced out of his deplorable Sufferings in forragin Parts and Peaceably introduced into thee to connive at the grievous Suffering of the Innocent in thee Have thy Parliaments and Councils been broken to pieces and with contempt secluded to the end that others might come in to make Acts and Laws for the Binding and Forcing of the Consciences of the Lords dear Children Were thy Bishops reinstalled to exercise Lordship over Gods Heritage and to augment the Sufferings of the afflicted in thee Were thy Judges and Justices together with many inferior Officers turned out of their Places that others who are more deboyst might come in to Oppress and Persecute the Harmless more than heretofore in thee Were thy high notional pretended gifted Priests ejected that they that are more Lewd and Prophane might be brought in Yet greater havock and spoile to make of the Saints and of their Substance than their Predecessors did In summa Was that notable overturning and remarkable change which of late happened in thee to this end Or was it not rather to manifest the Power of the Most High and his wonderful Works in thee that thy Inhabitants might know that he alone will Rule not alone in thee but in all the Kingdoms of the whole Earth Moreover consider whether or no it hath been for thy Profit and Honour to have so many of the Lord's Servants and Hand-maids in thy Goals Dungeons and Houses of Correction and so many Drunkards and Swearers Cozenners and Cheaters at Liberty in thy Cities Towns and Villages Is it for thy Honour and the Welfare of thy Inhabitants Souls that Covetous and Proud men yea such as God never sent should have their free Liberty to Preach in thee for their Heir and that the true Messengers and Servants of the Lord who Preach freely should be cast into Holes and Dungeons thereby to silence them or to prevent them from spreading God's Truth abroad in thee Is it for thy Profit and Advantage that faithful and discreet Merchants trusty and laborious Tradesmen diligent and expert Marriners careful and industrious Husband-men should be deprived of their Liberty about the exercise of their Conscience and thereby consequently obstructed from getting a comfortable Livelihood for themselves and their Families How think'st thou shall they be able to Pay all the Customes Taxes Dues Rights and Assessments c. that are required in thee of thy Inhabitants How shall they possibly discharge those I say if they do not injoy their Liberty and the Priviledges of free-born English-men and if they thereby come to be Impoverished what will their Impoverishment enrich thee Or who is there in thee that will willingly relieve and maintain such if external Poverty should overtake them Were it not therefore better for thee to let them injoy their Liberty notwithstanding their different Judgment in matters of Religion provided that they lived Peaceably in the Kingdom that through Diligence and Industry they might win or gain their own Bread though with the Sweat of their Browes that the Land might so much the better yeild her Increase and that Trading in thee might not decay to the Impoverishing of many more Families whose Livelihood depends upon their Trade which can scarcely go well when the Father or Master of it is cast into a Prison for the Exercise of his Couscience which things I know will tend to the laying of thee waste and to the depopulating of thee even as many Parts of Germany and other Countries have been laid waste and ruined which desolation hath had its rise from such differences in part as seem to arise in thee which in process of time may produce the like Effects if God in his Mercy through his Power and Wisdom do not direct them Though this brief Hint which I signifie hereof to thee may be little regarded by thee yet when thou hast felt the smart of it then mayest thou lament it as other places have done and remember that it was told thee before it came upon thee And this shall I add further viz. If thy Land open her Mouth to drink the Blood of the Saints after which it seems to thirst already then expect thou the coming of the overflowing scourge suddenly which hath been heavy upon other Countries who have polluted themselves with the Blood of the Lamb's Followers from which horrible thing the Lord deliver Thee Though I am not within thy Territories yet my Spirit is present with the suffering Seed in thy Dominion for the deliverance of which my Soul hath often interceeded unto the Lord and know assuredly that in true and entire Love to thee have I laid these things before thee for thy Inhabitants my Country-men to weigh and consider in the Light of the Lord. W. C. Germany the 17th of the 11th Month 1661. But Transcribed in Amsterdam the second Month 1662. FINIS
would have such punished and put to death as do not agree with them and conform unto them Another sort there are that are Meek Patient Gentle and Humble who bear all things and hope all things and will compel none to their Religion Brassius said That they that have a right Evangelical Doctrine and Faith persecute none but are persecuted themselves 't is true Paul said we should reject a Heretick after the first and second Admonition but he said not that we should Banish him out of the City or Country Consider once said Adrianus and see if the Hereticks have not alwayes persecuted the Righteous but where do you find that false Prophets and false Teachers have been persecuted of the World which doth alwayes love that which belongs to it and vilifie curse kill and murder that which Christ hath chosen for that which he chuseth is not of the World And now is Christ and his Disciples said he esteemed of the World as Hereticks Seducers Uprore-makers and the Seducers Hereticks and they that rise up against the Lord and his Anointed they are by the World called Christians The true Christians have been alwayes persecuted of the World not because they have deserved it but because they have not been conformable to their false Doctrines false Sacraments their Vanity and Superstition It is the manner of the false Teachers said a certain writer to cry out against those that teach any thing contrary to them for say they They make Tumults among the People and this with other things they charge upon those that reprove them when they themselves are the most tumultuous for if they did not stir up the Magistrates and People to Persecution and shedding of blood there would not be such Tumults among the People Moreover the contention and Tumults that are among men proceed not from them that serve God in the exercise of their Religion according to their Conscience but from such as will not suffer that but with Violence will usurp Authority over the Faith of others The Histories do testifie how that the Mallady wherewith several Emperours Kings and Princes have been perplexed could nor be cured nor perfect Peace and Rest injoyed nor true Obedience and Subjection maintained to Magistracy except they gave Liberty of Conscience to their Subjects wherefore some of them suffered themselves to be thereunto perswaded by their Subjects Anno 1601. In the Land of Cleave there was a notable Reformation and Tolleration in Religion For there it was decreed that from henceforth no man should be adjudged unfit for places of Office for his different judgement in Religion which did occasion much trust and Peace and did free the People from all Persecution in Spiritual matters It hath been formerly said that when a Prince cometh so far that between two parties he defendeth one party with Weapons and oppresseth the other with Weapons that then he getteth the name of a Tyrant and robbeth the Land of its welfare and through his own Power weakeneth his own might and maketh the same open for an Enemy Merck-tyck Page 57. CHAP. IV. The evil Effects of Forcing of the Conscience what it is Their Folly shewn that would have the Magistrates to Force People How the Old Fathers and Antient Christians heretofore have witnessed against it and what other Means they used THis do most Histories testifie viz. That the Distractions Uproars and many more Inconveniences have been chiefly occasioned through severe Proclamations cruel Proceedings and Persecution about matters of Religion and Forcing of Conscience which is plenteously to be found in several Chronicles but especially in the Chronicles of the overthrow of the Tyrants Printed at Hoorn in North Holland Anno 1620. Forcing of Conscience is said to be this to wit When any Compels Men to do any thing which is contrary to their Conscience or to abstain from such Exercises as they in Conscience esteem to be profitable and necessary to their Salvation one of these two is that which is commonly called forcing of Conscience against which the Martyrs since the Dayes of the Apostles have testified and have manifested it clearly to be an unfitting thing as might be shewn at large out of Histories Books of Martyrs Apologies Remonstrations c. Maximillian the Emperor told Hendricus the King of France That there was no Sin so great in his account as to do Violence to the Conscience And that those that went about to conquer the same thinking to gain Heaven did often lose that they had upon Earth It is well known that many are of Opinion that it is very necessary that the Magistrate compel by Force and Violence the unwilling to the Faith to the end that they may come of themselves as they imagine But said Erasmus Most men are so disposed that they will rather be led then compelled and that by Intreaties more may be obtained than through Cruelties Those that are ignorant of the drawings of the Father said a Wise man would have Magistrates to draw by violence such as do not only remain Ignorant of the Drawings of the Father but also others that are in the Truth they would have drawn to their dead Inventions as if they would conform so soon as they are punished But I suppose saith he that those that would otherwise come of themselves voluntarily through Punishments are terrified away As the Fish in the Water that come voluntarily to the Bait and Net but when People would compel them they fly The truth of this can Geneva Savoy and other Places witnesse said the Author Chrisostomus said That in Heavenly matters People must use no Violence for saith he These that use Violence estrange men most of all from their Religion instancing an Example in West-India of the Spaniards Tormenting a Casique or Lord so called and one of the Clergy seeking by his Preaching to convert him to the Faith told him of Heaven and Hell c. Then he asked the Clergy-man Where he and the Spaniards should be he said in Heaven then said the other Let me continue in Hell not being willing to be with such cruel People Bartolomeus delas casas Lactantius dixit non est opus vi et injura quia Religio cogi non potest verbis potius quam verberibus ves agenda est ut sit voluntas Nihil est enim tam voluntarium quam Religio in quasi animus sacrificantis aversus est jam sublata jam nulla est Augustinus said He did not approve of the Emperors Compelling any by violence contrary to their Conscience and he with Chrisostomus together with several others of the Antient Writers inferred from the 13th of Matthew that men should do no Violence to Hereticks neitheir compel any to the free Faith seeing God would have a willing unforced Heart Chron. van de urijh der Rel. 2. deel pag. 17. There were some in a certain National Synod that did much endeavour to stir up the civil Powers to compel all People by Fines
but with the Sword of the Spirit the Power of God and with Prayer were they to resist the evil Spirit and all its Temptations and with long Suffering learn to overcome them all The Chronicle testifieth How that Theodosius Persecuted no Man neither did he constrain any to hold Fellowship with him but permitted every Man to meet in his own house or at his own Meeting and he being a very meek man did thereby to wit through Meekness sooner bring his Subjects to Obedience than by War neither would he Force the Consciences of his Subjects Relig. Uriih pag. 6. Iohn Taulerius spoke also much in his Sermon Book of the Tribulation Oppression and great Suffering that the Christians were to expect here but not that he should cause any of them to suffer The Burgemeesteren of Amsterdam testified That no man had Power to bind another mans Conscience let him be who he will said they for this Power pertaineth only to God under whose Command and Power the Conscience is Anno 1617. Erasmus said That though they take our Moneys and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God Moreover the Lord said If they Persecute you in one City fly unto another thereby doth he teach saith Eras that persecuted Christians should not expel Weapons with Weapons but rather fly before Weapons for if Peter was reproved because he drew his Sword against the Wicked and Ungodly for his harmless Lord wherefore then should a Christian man for the future revenge Wrong with Wrong when it is done unto him In de Krijgdes urede Fol. 63. Lactantius said We Christians desire not that any man against his Will should serve our God who is the Creator of all things neither are we likewise angry if he be not served for we believe saith he that his Majesty might as well revenge their despisings as he doth the injuries of his Servants And therefore when we suffer such shameful things we keep silent referring vengeance unto the Lord and do not like unto those who would be esteemed Defenders of their Gods who are full of Wrath against those that do not honour them Rel. Uriih pag. 17. We are assured said Cyprianus That they that Persecute us shall not remain long unpunished and the greater Injuries which they have done the more manifest revenge will come upon them though we had no knowledge of the Antient times yet notwithstanding that which of late hath happened might serve for a sufficient Warning to wit that in so short a time saith he so grievious and terrible a revenge is already come upon Persecutors Merula pag. 214. When Cyprianus was threatned to be Banished out of the Land except he would renounce the Christian Religion he replyed to those that threatned him and said He that carrieth Christ shut up in his Heart and Mind can be no Exile or banished Man For the Earth is the Lords and the Fulness thereof Afterwards he was much urged by the Governour to betray his Brethren to which he would in no wise condescend and when the Governour told him that the Emperour had forbidden the Meetings of the Christians that they should not meet upon pain of death then he gave the Governour to understand that he was prepared to die for the Profession of the Truth Moreover said Cyprianus Have we not seen that the Martyrs of Christ did not look upon their Torments with cruel Eyes neither did they threaten Tyrants but was more sorrowful for their Blindness than for their own Suffering Anno 1567. Petrus Viretus said That there was nothing that sooner broke the Violence of Tyranny than the Patience of the Saints neither was there any better means to take away the sharpness of their Swords said he and to quench and extinguish their Fire than through Faith Constancy and Prayer CHAP. XV. Augustinus's Testimony How Ambrosius was threatned How private Meetings could not be prevented by Proclamations c. How it is the Duty of Christians to continue their Meetings And how we are to Obey God more than the Emperor or the King AUgustinus testified That when Emperours were in Error then did they make Laws for to defend Errors against the Truth yet Ambrosius would not obey the Emperor in things that were contrary to God and his Commands wherefore the Emperor threatned that he would cut off his Head then said Ambrosius I will Suffer as a Bishop do thou as becometh an Executioner or Hangman Apoph Fol. 144. The Chronicle testifieth How that in times past private Meetings could never be hindred through rigorous Proclamations strict Orders and Executions nor yet Sects of sinister Opinions but by how much the more they were forbidden by Orders and Persecuted by so much the more they Acted against the Orders Bor. 111.6.91 Moreover it sheweth how the Martyrs in Tribulation were mostly accused because they continued their Meetings contrary to the Command of the King Int Martel lib. 5. pag. 456. This is the Duty of all the Faithful said a certain wise Man That they continue their Meetings together in the name and fear of the Lord though Kings Princes and Magistrates by their Proclamations and Orders command the contrary for after the Apostle through many perils of his Life had Preached the Doctrin of the Gospel in Synagogues Schools and Markets and being resisted by open Violence and forbidden to Preach any more in that Name he notwithstanding after that kept Meetings in private Houses when he Preached Grotius testified How that it was the Opinion of some that they that did cruelly handle such as kept their Meetings not to Gormandize or play the Glutton nor to disturb the publick Peace but as Schools of Vertue were themselves in such a State as ought to be punished Vide Grot. lib. 2. pag. 445. The History sheweth how that heretofore some said as others do now That new things as new Opinions c. are alwayes to be feared especially great Meetings and Assemblies but said the Author Men need not fear that Doctrine which tends to the bringing of People to Piety and Honesty neither need men be afraid of the Meetings of honest peaceable People who seek not to keep themselves private except that they be thereunto constrained concerning whom I may say said he as Augustus said concerning the Meetings of the Jews that they were not to Domineer nor to be excessive in eating and drinking nor yet to disturb the Peace c. Anno 1560. In Scotland it was decreed and concluded That People should in all things obey the Magistrates Religion only excepted Hist. Georg. Fol. 697. Lucernus said He that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience that is an Antichrist Inde Bennse Disp. Fol. 71. Therefore said Erasmus If that at any time Evangelical Godliness require that People must contemn their Commands that must be done with such moderation as that it may not be through any hate against