Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	see_v	time_n	5,907	5	3.3926	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80614	The controversie concerning liberty of conscience in matters of religion, truly stated, and distinctly and plainly handled, by Mr. John Cotton of Boston in New-England. By way of answer to some arguments to the contrary sent unto him, vvherein you have, against all cavils of turbulent spirits, clearly manifested, wherein liberty of conscience in matters of religion ought to be permitted, and in what cases it ought not, by the said Mr. Cotton.	Cotton, John, 1584-1652.	1646 (1646)	Wing C6420; Thomason E364_10; ESTC R201241	11,124	16

THE CONTROVERSIE Concerning Liberty of Conscience IN Matters of Religion Truly stated and distinctly and plainly handled By Mr. JOHN COTTON of Boston in New-England By way of answer to some Arguments to the contrary sent unto him VVherein you have against all cavils of turbulent spirits clearly manifested wherein liberty of conscience in matters of Religion ought to be permitted and in what cases it ought not by the said Mr. COTTON London Printed for Thomas Banks and are to be sold at his shop in Black-Fryers on the top of Bride-well Staires 1646. Scriptures and Reasons written long since by a witnesse of Jesus Christ close prisoner in Newgate against persecution in cause of conscience and sent some while since to Mr. Cotton by a friend desiring to be instructed whether persecution for conscience be not against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ The Scriptures and Reasons are these which were alledged against persecution 1. BEcause Christ commands that the Tares and Wheat which some understand are those that walke in the truth and those that walke in lies should be let alone in the world and not plucked up till the Harvest which is the end of the World Math. 13.30.38 c. 2. Because Christ commandeth Math. 15.14 that they that are blind as some interpret led on in false Religion and are offended with him for teaching true Religion should be let alone referring their punishment to their falling into the ditch 3. Because Christ reproved his Disciples Luke 9.54 who would have had fire come down from Heaven to devour those Samaritanes which would not receive him in these words Ye know not of what spirit ye are of the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them 4. Because Paul the Apostle of our Lord teacheth 2. Tim. 3.24 That the servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evill men instructing them with meeknesse that are contrary minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the truth and come to amendment out of the snare of the Devill c. 5. According to these commandements the holy Prophets foretold that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdome be established Esay 2.4 Micah 4.3.4 that they should break their swords into mattocks and their Spears into Sithes and Esay 11.9 Then shall none hurt or destroy in all the Mountain of my Holinesse c. And when he came the same he taught and preached as before and so did his Disciples after him for the Weapons of his warfare are not carnall saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.4 And he charges his Disciples straitly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that should not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray Math. 5. when they were cursed they should blesse c. And the reason seems to be because they who now are Tares may hereafter become Wheat they who now are blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare by adversenesse from the truth may hereafter come to repentance they who are now persecuters and blasphemers as Paul was may in time become faithfull as he did they that are Idolaters as the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true worshippers as they and they that are now no people of God nor under mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.20 may hereafter become the people of God and obtaine mercy as they Some come not till the 11. houre Math. 20.26 if those that come not till the last houre should be destroyed because they come not at the first then should they never come but be prevented Thus for the Argument from Scripture But a. Because this persecution for cause of conscience is against the profession and practises of famous Princes First you may please to consider the Speech of King James in his Majesties Speech in Parliament 1609. He saith It is a sure rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed And in his Highnesse Apology page 4 speaking of such Papists who took the oath thus I have good proofe that I intended no persecution against them for conscience sake but only desired to be secured for civill obedience which for conscience sake they are bound to performe And page 60. speaking of Blackwell the Arch-Priest His Majestie saith It was never my intention to lay any thing to the said Arch-Priests charge as I have never done to any for cause of conscience And in his Highnesse exposition on David 20. printed 1588. and after 1603. His Majesty writeth thus Sixtly The compassing of the Saints and the besieging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain note of a false Church to be persecution for they come to seeke the faithfull the faithfull are them that are ●●●ght the wicked are the besiegers the faithfull are the besieged Secondly The saying of Stephen King of Poland I am King of 〈◊〉 not of consciences a Commander of bodies not of soules So the King of Bohemia writeth thus And notwithstanding the successe of later times wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one cleerly discern with his eye and as it were to touch with his finger that according to the verity of holy Scriptures and a Maxime heretofore told and maintained by the ancient Doctors of the Church That mens consciences ought in no set to be violated urged er constrained And whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been pernitious and the cause of great and wonderfull innovations in the principallest and mightiest Kingdomes and Countries of all Christendome And further his Majestie saith So that once more we professe ●●●●● God and the whole World that from this day forward wee are truly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or ●●lested any person whomsoever for matter of Religion us not they 〈◊〉 professe themselves to be of the Romish Church neither to trouble 〈◊〉 disturbe them in the exercise of their Religion so they live confornable to the Lawes of the States c. And for the practise of this where is persecution for cause of conscience except in England and where Popery raignes and there neither in all places as appears by France Poland and other places nay it is not practised amongst the Heathens that acknowledge not the true God as the Turke Persian and others 3. Because persecution for cause of conscience is condemned by the ancient and latter writers yea even Papists themselves Hillary against Auxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted and lamentable it is to see the great folly of these times and to sigh at the foolish opinion of this world in that men think by humane