Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A55112
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The Plea of the harmless oppressed, against the cruel oppressor
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Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of, 1633-1695. A letter to a dissenter.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing P2525; ESTC R31914
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14,529
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24
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THE PLEA OF THE Harmless Oppressed Against the Cruel Oppressor With Allowance THis Kingdom having suffered great Miseries and Calamities for several Ages and Generations past and of late have been in a shaking unstable State and Condition by reason of the great Animosities and Divisions amongst the Inhabitants â—hereof and especially touching matters meerly concerning the Worship of God which alone belongs to the Great God to appoint and order whose Prerogative alone it is to rule in the Consciences of Men for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and the Scriptures â—aâ—th Let every one be fully perswaded in his own mind And now such is the dark depraved state of Man-kind that tho his understanding be so darkned and his mind thus blinded by the Prince of Darkness who rules in the Hearts of the Children of Men that he is always aspiring and meddling with those matters that God hath reserved alone to himself viz. to prescribe Rules and make Orders for the Worship of God tho the Lord hath threatned that because their fear to him is taught by Mens Precepts he will proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall Perish c. Jer. 29.13 14. Notwithstanding tho men generally in this Kingdom profess Scripture to be their Rule yet with what Violence and Cruelty hath the contrary been practised what Laws have been made under severe Penalties to force People to this or that Religion whether they have Faith in it or no or whether it be the true Religion or no for tho some that have been violent in forcing yet concludes there is no infallibility and so as some have been thus wicked in forcing others weak in conforming having been thus put on the Rack either to suffer the loss of all that 's near and dear to them in this World or make Shipwrack of Faith or a good Conscience and of everlasting Life in the World to come but others have been so stedfast and resolved so as not to Wound or Dâ—file their Conscience what Sufferings both in Prisons and spoyling of Goods have such undergone this present Generation may afford pregnant and plentiful Examples And now on serious consideration of those violent Practices in forcing in matters of Religion and generally by Men of no true Religion the forcing of many contrary to their Consciences to preserve their outward Interest and ruining others who chose rather to lose their outward Concerns to preserve their Conscience whether this hath not been one of the greatest causes of those great Revolutions Devastations and Overturnings that have happened in these latter Days let the wise in Heart judg And then what can better tend to the Stability Peace and Union of the Kingdom then the removing the causes aforesaid viz. those Laws by which many conscientious People have been Destroyed and others divided in their Hearts one from another and set one against another and indeed even the worse of Men let loose to serve the Devil conscientious People prohibited to serve God in the way they were fully perswaded God required of them And the Lord having now put it into the Heart of our King to relieve many under those great Oppressions and to propose a way for a future Settlement as by his Princely Dâ—claration is exprest in which he hath exceeded all his Ancestors that went before him of what wâ—ight is it for all his Loyal Subjâ—cts to joyn Heaâ—t and Hand with him in this Blessed Work so much tending to the Glory of Almighty God the Honour of the King and the Peace and Tranquility of this Kingdom And now there being a Generation of Men that appears greatly in opposition to this Work so happily begun contrary to the expectations of many which as the Heart of the King is upright before the Lord the Everlasting God will stand by him therein and frustrate all the Councels of those that oppose him which generally are such whose Interest is greatly concerned therein who may greatly pretend Worship as sometimes Demetrius the Silver-Smith did when his Crast was in danger And now there being several able Pens that have writ on this Subject to assert the Rights of Liberty of Conscience and Answer the great Objection to the contrary viz. Thaâ— if these Laws and Tests be taken away the great danger that may ensue thereby even the flowing in of Popery like a Flood Which Objection tho it have been suâ—â—iciently answered yet it was before me to cast in my Mite and offer a few Lines on this account having taken notice of a certain Pamphlet entitâ—led A Letter to a Diâ—senter and some Passages therein it s not my purpose to answer Particulars it being sufficiently done by other Hands The drift of that Paper seems to shew the daâ—ger of Repealing the Tests as if there weâ—e no other way to keep out Popery whose Principles and Practice have been so Dangerous and Cruel insinuating as if all the promises of free Liberty in the Kings Declaration were but pretences to bring in a greater Bondage and that those Addressâ—s to him were â—irst drawn for that purpose and indeed as if tâ—e King in his Dâ—claration were not Sincere but Falacious also intimating how safe it may be for the Church of England to be continued in Power what Indulgence she may give saying p. 5. If you had to do with thosâ— ridged Prelates who made it a matter of Conâ—ience to give you the least Indulgence c. but kept you at an uncharitable Distance and evâ—n â—o your more reasonable Scruples continued â—â—iff and inexorable For answer What kept out Popery before the Test was made it being but about â—ifteen Years old and whether it may not be kept out for the future without the Test as well as before it seems to me that ways sufficient have been proposed And as for the Kings sincerity in his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience what could he have done more then he hath done to assure his Subjects of his reallity therein and that they may confide in him accordingly but these Fears seems to arise from groundless Jealousies rather the just cause and evil Suspition usually proceeding from an evil Disposition that would uphold its own Interest more then the publick Good and would have a Liberty to keep others in Bondage And as to what the Church of England may do to give Indulgence and that if you had to do with those ridged Prelates c. some of their former Practices and Resolves may sufficiently manifest whereof some Instances may be given I may give two first the Orders of the Quarter Sessions in the County of Devon three of them in Print coming to my Hand the first the tenth of Ianuary 1681. the second the twenty fifth of April 1682. and the third the second of October 1683. to all of them is annexed the great Appâ—obation and Commendation of the Bishop of Exon with his order for all the Clergy in his Diocess