Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A36107
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A Discourse of toleration with some observations upon the late act of Parliament.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing D1610; ESTC R15512
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10,989
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12
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as a Natural Right and yet not be willing to allow all men this Priviledge as if Nature were so far a Step-Dame to some of her Children as to deny them a Title to the Common Rights of Humanity I must confess That ever since I came to consider things I have been of Opinion That Conscience ought not to be forc'd and that no man was justly punishable for differing in his Judgment in any Point whatever from the Established Religion For the Confirmation of which Opinion I humbly propose these following Considerations 1. It is not in our own power to believe as we please If upon mistaken Grounds I believe that to be true which is really false yet still I so believe and cannot but believe till I am convinc'd of my Error But after a clear and full Conviction I throw aside my former Opinion and cannot possibly though I would believe it For as Plato well observes Every Soul is unwillingly deprived of Truth And 't is beyond the power of a Man to resist Truth when it once plainly shews its self unto him Since therefore our Errors are not voluntary we ought not to be punish'd for them For what we cannot help is at least excusable if not justifiable And all Error intrudes it self against a Man's Will and therefore is not punishable For 't is unjust to punish where there is no Fault and it is to Fault for a man not to do what it is impossible for him to do Nor doth Force make any Alteration in the Case It may indeed make us dissemble and play the Hypocrites and cause us to profess that we believe what we really do not believe But it cannot change our Minds For we shall still so long as our Judgment is not convinc'd retain the same Sentiments we had before Therefore Men should be reason'd and not forc'd into a right Faith 2. Though an Erroneous Faith be supposed to be never so dangerous and destructive to the Soul that entertains it yet it injures no body but him that has it If my Neighbour embraces Heretical Opinions the hurt is only to himself It neither hinders my Salvation nor is it any prejudice to my Temporal Affairs Indeed if false Opinions did any way violate the Rights of others then there might be some Colour for prosecuting the Authors of them even tho they could not help what they did and so consequently were guilty of no Crime For Self-preservation is an unalterable Law of Nature which warrants every one to defend his own Right Thus we commonly destroy Vermine Birds and Beasts of Prey because they injure us though we know at the same time that they only act according to their Natures and are not Criminal in so doing But here some may urge That difference in Opinions gives birth to Faction and Sedition and often ends in Rebellion it fills all places with Disorder and Confusion and is inconsistent with the Quiet and Happiness of Society Now if it could be prov'd That such dismal Consequences would naturally and necessarily flow from a Toleration then I confess That every man that lov'd his Countrey ought to oppose it It would be a great happiness if Mankind were united in one Faith and we all thought and spake the same things But this is a blessing rather to be wish'd than hoped for Mens apprehensions of things being so various it is morally impossible that we should not differ in Opinion But however Force is not the best nor only way of preserving Peace For if men would but be prevailed upon to lay aside prejudice and passion and bear with one another if they would be so rational as not to suffer their Love and Kindness to be lessen'd by a difference in Opinion if every one had Liberty to enjoy his own Opinion and thought it his duty to permit others to do the like we should never have any the least occasion to quarrel or contend about Religion If this mild and peaceable Doctrine were once heartily embrac'd and generally entertain'd it would soon stifle all Heats and Animosities and restore that Love and Charity which by the Gospel we are obliged to practice even towards our Enemies and Persecutors much more towards our Friends and Brethren though in some Points their Opinions are different from ours And then though we were not united in Opinion yet if we were in Love that very Love would compose our differences and settle a firm and undisturb'd Peace among us And that this is not a meer Notional Chimaera which has been entertained only by some few Bookish men who were never versed in the World and so understand little or nothing of the Temper and Inclinations of Mankind but that it is a thing really practicable is evident from the Experience of above 4000 years during which time the Heathen World though divided into as many Opinions as we now are and some of them about matters of the highest Consequence in Religion did nevertheless enjoy a constant and uninterrupted Peace being never troubled with any Wars Feuds or Disturbances upon the account of their differences in Religion If it be asserted That later Ages have afforded Instances of a quite contrary Nature and that our Disputes about Religion have not only banish'd all Love and Kindness from among us but have oftentimes involved us in Blood I answer That 't is not the difference in Opinions but the refusing to give Liberty to those who dissent from us that has been the chief occasion of those Miseries and Calamities that have befallen us Oppression unites the several Sects and causes them to joyn as one that they may regain their lost Liberty This occasions a continual struggling betwixt them and the Establish'd Church And from hence all the Wars and Bustles that have happen'd in the Christian World upon the account of Religion have had their Rise If therefore a full and impartial Toleration were once settled all occasion of difference would immediately cease and the Dissenters having no just cause of Discontent would be no longer dangerous Subjects But if any prevailing Party moved by Ambition and encourag'd by the considence of their great Numbers should attempt any thing against the Goverment 't is probable that many sober and peaceable Men even of their own Party would oppose them since they would now want the most plausible pretence of drawing them in But to be sure Interest would oblige all other Dissenters to stand by the Government and to guard and support it because they know that under it they shall enjoy the freedom of their Religion and that they need not fear the severity of the Laws so long as they neither injure their Neighbours nor offend against the Civil Peace Hence it appears that it is the interest of Governors to indulge Dissenters since that will make them to sit more safe and secure A Toleration likewise would very much conduce to the preservation of the established Church For this would cause the several Sects