against them and for which Cause he will smite and wound confound and overturn Kingdomes Powers and Authorities even till he Reign whose Right it is who onely and alone will Rule in the free exercise of Soul Spirit and Conscience through the teachings of his own Spirit And though much Opposition and great Contention have been made against this in the World in which men have striven against their own good and welfare yet there is a day and it hastens to come in Power when Imposition upon Conscience by outward worldly force in Cases Divine will be banished the whole Fabrick of the Creation and exiled into the pit of never-rising obscurity and darkness and then shall the Sons of men be delivered from the Violence of it and from all its miserable and mischievous Consequence Then shall the heritage of the Lord rejoyce in Ioy unspeakable being delivered from the oppression under which she hath long mourned travelled and groaned in deep distresse Then shall Nations delight in amity one with another then shall Neighbours rejoyce in Society one among another and then shall Kings and Rulers love their Subjects and People freely and People shall Obey and serve their Rulers with a willing and chearful heart and mind Hereby the God of Heaven should be Glorified and all People become Blessed Amity Love Unity and Concord and the first Creation order and Decree would be restored between God and his Creatures and also between man and man in holy Covenant And this matter to wit Concerning Liberty of Conscience in the free exercise of Godliness hath been of these late years in great Debate and Contest among men in these Nations and some have been of one Iudgement and others of a contrary about this matter and the Contention hath arisen very high even unto Blood and losse of all and is yet remaining undetermined in the minds and Spirits of many people which ought to be resolved in every heart through conviction by sound Arguments of Truth and Divine reason and men ought then to obey the same according to inward Spiritual Conviction and this Case ought not to be determined by Carnal weapons forcibly Compelling people in the Case by the Impositions of Conquest in a Violent way of outward Power And since that This is a Case dubious whether free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Worship or Imposition about the same is most worthy I therefore upon this necessity calling upon me with my willingness to assist in such a work would add my mite and grain of Knowledge and Wisdome towards the resolving of such a dubious and needful Case And have taken this opportunity and occasion thus to declare my mind and shall leave the effect hereof to the purpose and Providence of the Lord who onely is Wise to work whatsoever he will by whomsoever he pleases for he never yet limited himself to any one Instrument in the bringing forth and accomplishing his purpose however no man is to dispute the Leadings and Commands of God nor yet to measure his obedience to him by either objected or real Consequence in the fruits and effects of his obedience And this is that warrant to wit the leadings of God under the Commission of which the Servants of God do Act in their Obedience and disputes not the Authority nor the Consequence but leaves the Issue of all things to him that Commands The total sum of this matter to wit Liberty of Conscience is very large and requires multitude of Words and many arguments to unfold the Truth of it the vertue of it and the Evil Causes Works and effects of the Contrary but at this time I shall contract the sum into state it in this total head Whether it is not perfect Reason Justice and Equity and that without all Exceptions that every man upon the Earth be permitted in the free exercise of Conscience without any kind of Force put upon him by any man to the contrary to follow that Religion and to live in such Faith and perform such Worship to God as he dares trust his own Soul withal and give account thereof before God in the day of dreadful Judgement My Iudgement is on the affirmative Part in answer to this Question and it is my Iudgement in the Fear and Spirit of the Lord that 't is perfectly reasonable Just and Equal that every man in the World be permitted his Liberty in the free exercise of his Conscience and that without any force imposed upon him to the Contrary to follow that Religion and live in that Faith and perform that Worship to God with which he dares trust his own Soul to the Salvation thereof and the contrary is Unreasonable Unjust and Unequal and this might be amplified in a large manner upon occasion And this is not only my Iudgement alone nor the false Fancy of a single Person but it is the Faith and Judgement of many more and that not of Fools altogether but of the Wise not only of some few men of our Age but of many Ages past whose Principles were for the Toleration of Liberty in the exercise of Conscience in matters Spiritual as in this smal Treatise following more at large appears to which for proof of this Particular and to second the Truth of my Iudgement I do refer the serious and well considerate Reader in which small Piece he may find the Iudgements of divers Persons asserted by their own Sayings concerning the very Case of Liberty of Conscience and what esteem some Kings and Princes and Religious Men have had of the same for this following Piece to which I am now prefacing is no other than a certain sum of brief Collections of the Sayings of Emperors Kings and Potentates of former Ages contracted into this short method for the better Intelligence of all that are inquiring about this occasion and such is mine affection to the present Contraction collected that I wish that all the Rulers and Princes of our Age through the World would seriously read and rightly study the same and improve it to their own advantage in practising the Sayings of their Grave and Wise Progenitors and oh that they would engross this small Piece in their Records and enclose it in their Closets and use the same as Counsel and Instruction to themselves in the Premises the effect of it might prove happy to them if their present Practise would be answerable to the Intimations of the Antients And this small Piece happily ariving the harbour of my hands through the tedious industry of the Collector and through other passages of tempestious Dangers which it lay liable unto I have transported it over a serious view and am affected with it unto my Commendation and approof first of the matter it self and secondly of its Author's pains and Industry in forming of it into this method in which it now appears both of which I cannot but commend and do also herewith recommend to the View Consideration and Instruction of
Heaven unto Wrath and Indignation and it wounds and oppresses the Immortal Soul unto Death and Damnation Surely It is contrary to the very purpose of God in Order of Creation who made and Ordained Mankind free from Bondage and never brought him forth into the World to be a subjected slave to the will of another man in things Temporal much lesse in things Spiritual and relating to Eternity and this work of Imposing by force in matters of Faith Worship and Duty to God of one man upon another or of some Persons over all is certainly an Act of Bondage and Slavery laid as a grievous yoak upon the necks one of another and subjecting one another in Oppression not unto the good Will of the Creator but unto the evil will of mortal perishing and sinful Creature and this differing from and contrary to the pure and perfect Order and Decree of Creation which was blessed altogether and whatsoever is degenerated by Corruption and Erred through Temptation from that Pure and Holy Order of Creation either in things Wordly or Divine is in the Curse and Oposition against the Holy Creator and so is this thing of which I am now Treating Imposition upon Conscience in matters Divine and Temporal Force exercised in Spiritual Cases is the highest Product of Degeneration and the greater degression from the Holy Order of Creation for without Controversie the Creator himself reserved and retained in his alone onely Power the Priviledge of Supremacy in and over the inward man in all the matters Immortal that he might be the onely Lord in that Case and give Spiritual Law to Command and force thereby to exercise the Soul and heart in Fear Love Faith Worship and Obedience to himself that he might be served as the Lord over all most chiefly in respect of the Inward Spiritual and Immortal man This Power of Supremacy I say he reserved and retained in himself in the Creation to exercise over Mankind and did not commit this Priviledge to any other wherefore without Controversie it is an Usurpation of the Creators rightful Dominion it is a robbing of him of his Dignity and Prerogative it is an Act of Violence done against his Soveraignty an audacious intruding into his proper right and a violating of the Law and Decree of Creation for one Person or one People to assume to themselves Power Authority and Government over other Persons and Peoples in Commanding and Imposing in matters Spiritual over their Consciences in the Worship and Service of God and it is such an abomination against the Creator both in the Cause and End of it That he will arise and take Vengeance upon it and he will ease himself of all such his adversaries Again It is contrary to the Law of Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among the sons of men by order of Creation which God appointed to be among them and by Imposing in matters of Spiritual concern as aforesaid that Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among men decreed in Creation is broken and confounded and disannulled among them by reason of the same and Nations and Kingdoms hate and contend one with another Neighbors and Brethren cannot agree but fall into strife one against another Kings and their Subjects Rulers and their People are in discord debate Disobedience and Rebellion one contrary to another by reason that Liberty of Conscience in Worship and Duty to Godwards is wanting in the World and Impositions and force by outward Authority in that Case are prevailing and in Power And thus the Law of Love Unity and Concord Decreed in Creation is violated despised and made voyd and hatred divisions strifes and discords intraduced in its room and abounds in the Spirits and visible actions of the sons of men through the World to the woful effects of killing persecuting and destroying one another Nation of Nation Neighbours of Neighbours and Kings of their Subjects occasioned and grounded upon this thing as the Foundation of the same to wit Imposing by force upon Conscience in matters Divine Wherefore not onely against God is this evil extended to dishonour and disgrace him as is shewed but against man also is this evil and mischief in the effects of it reached forth as ye have seen and the Law of Creation is violated both in respect of Creator and Creature It is in its cause and ground so evil in its works and effects so wicked and mischievous and in its end so provoking and damnable and all this both in respect of God and man that I have not yet Comprehended the height and depth thereof though my Spirit from a Child hath often entered into the serious Considerations of this thing with mourning and sorrow because of it and with testimony and abhorrance against it and at this hour I am a sufferer in body and Spirit because of the same Carnal Imposition upon Conscience in Spiritual things wo unto it my Soul hates and my God will Plague in his season If I should study in searching to find out and to discribe all the evils mischiefs and wofull Inconveniences and effects of this Gulf out of which they ascend I might make this Epistle a large Volumn but since that I have elsewhere written about this matter I shall now Contract this with the saying of the Apostle This Mistery of iniquity doth work untill he be taken out of the way Yea this Imposition upon Conscience opposite to perfect Liberty in the exercise of the same is the onely Main Material Support Prop and Defence of the Kingdome of Antichrist throughout the World at this day and whomsoever as are friends hereunto they are friends to him and they love his wayes and are subjects of his Kingdome and are rebellious against Christ and to his Kingdome they are Enemies Wherefore my heart and soul saith within me would to God I had such a gift of Demonstration by Pen or Tongue and that the same were so forcible and Efficacious to awaken every soul to an abhorrance and dislike of that Spirit Principle and Practice of Imposition upon Conscience that there might be a total turning from the Kingdome of Antichrist which Consists of Falshood Darkness Sin and Enmity of Bondage Oppression and cruel Impositions to the Kingdome of Christ Jesus which Consists of Truth Light and Righteousness of freedome and perfect Liberty in Soul and Spirit Which Kingdome and Government the Lord of Heaven and Earth will promote and Exalt in the Kingdomes of this World which must become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of His Christ according to Promise It hath ever been my Iudgment That want of Liberty and free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters and the Contrary Imposed by worldly Power and it remains still with me That this is one main Cause of the woful Distractions in Kingdomes of the unsetledness in States and of many evil Consequences abounding in the Governments of the World and also the Cause wherefore the God of Heaven is angry and provoked
the holy Scripture Exhorting people in their Pulpits and freely proffering to confer or Dispute with any and every one had then freedome But now will not the Clergy said the same Author be spoken against who sit at ease in Pride Idleness and Fulness and if any do speak against them they will so much as in them lie cause such to suffer charging them with breaking the Peace of the Church or the Peace of the Kingdome and with rayling words will evade entering into a sober discourse thereby manifesting the badness of their Cause and the guiltiness of their Conscience and then seek to defend themselves more by the Power of the Magistrate then with Gods Word and Godly testimony and in the mean time prejudice others by procuring their own rest and peace but surely this is neither just right nor equal Further saith he in the mean time those men would have a triumphant Church upon the Earth but no suffering neither will they suffer any trouble difficulty or opposition but do make the Magistrate believe that such things incurr trouble Uproar Disturbance c. Yet nevertheless some of the Clergy themselves have put forth sundry Treatises wherein they shewed how that the Peace and Welfare of the Land might be preserved though several Religions in the Land were tollerated Quand à la permission de S'assembler es Temples Sire aucunc division tumulte ne'n adviendra entre vous Subjects mais bien un repos public extinction de toute Sedition Populaire As touching the permitting the assembling together in Temples no manner of Division or Tumult can from hence arise among your Subjects but rather a Publick rest and extinguishing of all Popular Sedition For the Chronicle also sheweth how that the disturbance and trouble cometh not through those that live orderly according to their Conscience and the word of God and accordingly exercise their Religion in Stilness but through those who will not suffer this nor bear others but seek to have the Preheminence and to exercise Lordship over others and therefore do they raise up Persecution But the States of Holland testified Dat waer vervolginghen Ziju datter daer al in roere is maer waer geen en sijn al sijnder verscheijden Religien dat daer alle saelren stilder sijn so â—olr in onse vijden is bevonden i. e. That where there was Persecution there was all in distraction but where there was none though there were several Religions there all things were the quieter as have been evident in our dayes said they Vide urede Handel van Coln fol. 53. CHAP. VIII Concerning obedience to Magistrates the vanity and evil of forcing of Conscience Certain Mixims asserted by many wise men how Violence becometh not the Ministers of the Gospel neither hath Christ nor his Apostles taught it nor practised it CAlvin said That those that are set over us must be obeyed if that the command of God be not thereby disobeyed but if they lead us from Obedience to God and presumptuously strive against the Lord then must they not be regarded said he to the end that God with his Authority may retain the Preheminence The States of Holland testified That Subjects were not obliged in all things whether right or unright to be subject to their Princes Int plac Anno 1581. 2. Deel fol. 12. Prince of Orange being commanded by the King when he departed out of Zealand to put many sober People to death who were suspected concerning their Religion but therein he would not obey the King knowing he could not do it with a good Conscience and also being assured that it was better to obey God than man Moreover said a certain Writer the truth with sad experience hath learned us and plainly shewn us That forcing of Conscience and Persecuting about Religion is not onely in vain but a direct contrary means and a cause of Sects and disturbances and of many evils as the Chroncles of Germany France and the Low Countryes do abundantly testifie The States of Holland also affirmed That it was not possible to find out means of any good and certain Peace otherwise then by Tollerating more then one Religion Experientia satis edocti sumus ferrum flammas exilum proscriptiones irritasse potius quam sannasse morbum menti inhaerentem The King of France was moved with great Zeal said a certain Bishop to ordain great Torment and punishment for the Hereticks thinking thereby to root out their Opinion and to Unite the People together in one Opinion but in his determination saith he he was deceived So was also Duke d'Alba who for five or six years together endeavoured with exceeding great Tyranny to maintain the Law of the King in the Low-Countryes In Het 36. van de standt der Rel. fol. 190. Now notwithstanding the great Persecution that is and hath been about Religion these following Maximes are asserted and owned by most men 1. That Faith is the gift of God 2. That Relgion ought to be free 3. That no Religion by Violence can be imprinted in the Heart 4. That Forcing maketh men Hypocrites 5. That it is impossible to preserve the Land in Peace without giving Liberty for the free exercise of Religion 6. That in one Land or City there may be well more Religions than one 7. That it is a seed of Contention and Uproar among the People when men contrary to Promise and to what they ought resist one another in their Religion 8. And that prohibiting the free exercise of Religion tendeth openly or manifestly to the destruction of men which happeneth when one party with Violence seeketh to root out anothers Religion Nevertheless said the Author it is evident that many foolish Zealots will obstinatly run on in that destructive path of forcing Conscience and thereby bereave others of the Exercise of their Religion Fredericus the King of Bohemia said That in these last times there were many different Opinions risen among men in matters of Faith and Religion but according to what is contained in the Scripture and according to the setled Foundation of Doctrine said he men will not be urged compelled or forced in their Conscience for when such forcing hath been attempted it hath had an evil end and in the chiefest Kingdoms and Provinces there hath been a remarkable change made for through this means Cities come to be more ruined than benefitted Vide his Declaration Printed in the Hagne Anno 1619. It doth in no wise become the Preachers of the Gospel and Ministers of the New-Testament to deal in Matters of Faith by Force Violence and Tyranny said a wise Man or thereunto to help Counsel or Advise but with Prayer with the Word of God and with the Sword of the Spirit Lambertus testified saying Truly things are not well neither do men right when they go about to remove Hereticks and Errors with Weapons for the Truth and certainty of the Christian Doctrin ought not to depend upon the uncertain Effects
that hath been alwayes so meek that it is as possible to find an Example of a Lambs devouring of a Wolf as of that putting a Heretick to Death by the Sword and they in whom his Spirit dwelleth are minded like him But as concerning Persecutors while in the New-Testament they find nothing but Meekness which is directly contrary to their Persecution said he therefore are they necessitated to fly unto the Old by which they suffiiently manifest whose Spirits Children they are This doth the multitude of the Martyrs testifie with their Innocent Blood how that the true Believers have Suffered as Hereticks Blasphemers Uproar-makers Contemners of Religion and Seducers c. Yet it is a fast and certain Rule saith the History That where the Spirit of God and his truth hath place that there must all Consultations of Persecutions cease then much more the thing it self knowing that their Weapons are wholly Spiritual even as God and his whole Kingdom is which must be used and Felt and keep the Authority for there are saith he Weapons of Love of Prayer of Peace and of Patience whereby the inward Understanding of the Heart and Soul may be brought unto the right Way But what is Flesh and Blood with fleshly Weapons alas said he in no wise fitting but like unto the World which run on in the broad Way to Destruction Moreover it is evident enough for in the whole Europa Experience hath learned it that the cruel Condemning Banishing Persecuting and putting Hereticks to Death about Matters of Faith and Religion is an absolute contrary means for to rout out Hereticks for to unite the divided Christendom and to quiet its Disturbances And it hath also been found by Experience that External Peace and Unity can and may be better preserved in a Kingdom or Common-wealth through forbearance and by Suffering of contrary Opinions through Love and Christian Meekness than by Banishing and Persecuting People to Death about Matters of Faith and Religion CHAP. XII When the Bishops began to seek the help of the Magistrate How it then Ministered Offence What Punishment the Church heretofore had according to the Will of the Lord for Hereticks And how difficult a thing it is for Magistrates to judge aright in Matters of Heresie ERasmus Testified That for above 400. Years the Bishops did not seek the help of the Emperors against the Hereticks and when they did seek it against the insufferable Wickedness of the Donatisten it did not please the good Party that they should then seek the help of the Civil Power for they then Judged that it became not the Bishops to use any other Weapons or to have any other Help than the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God although the Evil was incurable yet would they have excluded it by Excomunication which is said to be the greatest Judgment or Punishment that then the Church had Now it is confessed that the Lord Jesus Christ hath manifested his Will by that which is left upon record and which was delivered by his Apostles who have shewn us how we should carry our selves 1. Towards them that resist the Truth 2 Tim. 2.24 25. Chap. 3.6.8 Chap. 4.15 2. Towards Back-sliders 1 Tim. 1.20 3. Towards them that deny the Resurrection 2 Tim. 2.16 18. 4. Towards them that Teach what they ought not Titus 1.11 13. 5. Towards them that cause Divisions and Offences Rom. 16.17 6. Towards false Prophets Mat. 7.15 Chap. 16.11 12. 7. Towards them that Walk Disorderly 2 Thes. 3.6 8. Towards Pharisaical Hypocrites that have the Form of Godliness and not the Power Luke 12.1 2 Tim. 3.5 9. Towards false Brethren 1 Cor. 5.11 10. Towards Hereticks Titus 3.10 11. Towards Fornicators and Idolaters 1 Cor. 5.11 12. Towards the Disobedient 2 Thess. 3.14 13. Towards the Stiff-necked Mat. 18.17 Thus it appears from the Scripture of Truth that it was not the Will of our Lord and Lawgiver That they should be punished with severe Punishments in Prisons or by Banishment or by having their Goods spoyled or by being put to Death nay but he hath rather commanded 1. That with Meekness we should Instruct 2 Tim. 24.25 2. Deliver unto Satan 1 Tim. 1.20 3. Sharply to rebuke Tit. 1.11 13. 4. To avoid them Rom. 16.17 2 Thes. 3.6 2 Ioh. 10.11 5. To beware of them Mat. 7.15 6. To have no fellowship with them 1 Cor. 5.11 7. To reject them Tit. 3.10 2 Tim. 4.15 8. To let them alone Mat. 15.14 9. To esteem them as Heathens or Publicans Mat. 18.17 Thus we see the Laws that the Lord Jesus Christ hath ordained for their Punishment to the end that the Fruits hereafter mentioned might be brought forth for God willeth not as many blood thirsty Men that they should die and perish but the Will of God is That they all should repent 2 Pet 3.9 2 Tim. 2.25 That they cease from mens Traditions That they might be ashamed 2 Thes. 3.14 That they might learn not to Blaspheme 1 Tim. 1.20 That they might be found in the Faith Tit. 1.13 That the Spirit might be saved 1 Cor. 5.5 For the Power which the Lord hath given the Apostles was to Edification and not to Destruction 2 Cor. 13.10 Erasmus said The Christian Meekness must satisfie it self with these Punishments to Stone that is the Jewes work but the true Christians work is to Heal. Ambrosius said That Hereticks were only to be Punished by Excomunication and not to be Beat and Persecuted for so did the Heathen said he that knew not God And Ignatius said you shall seperate your selves from them and exhort them to Repentance In Haereticis coercendis quatenus progredi liceat ubi nominatius eos ultimo supplicio affici non deberi aperte demonstratur Christlinge Impressum Anno 1577. Sectio 2. Chrisostomus said That he was not such a Fool as that he would suffer them to be his Judges who were his open Enemies for it is against all right and reason that he who is the Accuser and Witness should also be Judge Every one saith he will be judge over another yet none acknowledging the other to be his Judge Tell me then ye wise Men who would have the Hereticks Punished or Persecuted to Death by the Magistrate who shall be the Judge the Magistrate the Church or the Doctrin which is spoken against And how shall the Magistrate be assured of the Odiousness of the Blasphemy and Crimes And how shall the Magistrate know certainly who are punishable Sismaticks Apostates false Teachers Hereticks and Seducers who they are that set up a Sect or a Church Who believe well or Evil Who Teach according too or contrary to the Scripture Who are moved of God or by his own Zeal Who do according to a good Conscience or contrary Who are wounded and judged in themselves and who are not And who are obstinate and stiff-necked Hereticks or constant upright Christians But suppose the Magistrates should refer this to the Divines or Clergy said he