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A31172 The Case of the people called Quakers, relating to oathes and swearing presented to the serious consideration of the King and both Houses of Parliament. 1673 (1673) Wing C1130; ESTC R18184 7,173 28

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THE CASE Of the People called QUAKERS Relating to Oathes and Swearing Presented To the Serious Consideration OF THE KING And both Houses of PARLIAMENT Printed in the Year 1673. THE CASE Of the People called QUAKERS Relating to Oathes and Swearing 'T Is not unknown that in this Nation for Twenty or Thirty Years last past under the various Revolutions of Government we have been a suffering People and although our peaceable behaviour under the Governors and Magistrates thereof has not been only evident to our Friends but even our Enemies yet the Covenants Engagements Abjurations and Oaths which every Interest before you have thought good to provide and impose upon the People in hopes to establish their own safety has been of all other the greatest Snare unto us who since the Lord first raised us up in these Nations could not Swear at all and the Oaths Provided to Testifie Allegiance to the King and deny all of the Popes Supremacy in Causes Civil and Ecclesiastical the refusal whereof incurrs a Premunire has been executed upon such whose hearts and hands could seal to the substance thereof and whose practice hath testified their Allegiance to the King and principles of denying the Pope yet their Consciences not allowing them to Swear at all because of the Command of Christ for that only they have been the sole Sufferers thereby witness the many Hundreds of us that have been Premunired and suffered many Years some ten Years and upwards imprisonment besides confiscation of Goods and forfeiture of Estates and Liberty yea many Hundreds have dyed in Prison when such against whom this Oath was directed and intended have not felt the least Penalty thereof as most Countries throughout this Nation can bear witness Now we being in the Sight of God and Men clear in our Principles and Practices as well of all Conspiracies against the King as Adherents to the Pope and his Religion which Root and Branch we absolutely deny and abominate we cannot but press you to a weighty Consideration of our State and Condition that after so long experience of our Innocency and tedious Suffering we may be eased of this Snare and heavy Burthen which has so long been our Lot and Portion And though it may to you and many more in these Dayes seem strange that in this or any other Case we cannot swear at all though it has been to the apparent Ruine of many in their Estates and Liberties yet in this have we had Peace with the Lord it being what he requires at our Hands and in good Conscience towards God and Obedience to the express Commands of Christ and Doctrine of the holy Apostles and not in Contempt of the King or Government are we found in this Practice God who is the Searcher of Hearts knows that its with holy Respect to the Reputation of Christianity and the Evangelical Dispensation of Truth and Righteousness which exceeds that of the Law and the solemn Oaths thereof and to Christ's express Prohibition in that Case which is Swear not at all neither by Heaven or by Earth Math. 5.33 34. c. NOR BY ANY OTHER OATH but let your yea be yea and your nay be nay lest you fall into Condemnation Jam. 5.12 So though it was allowed in the Law christ and his Apostle forbid it in his Gospel And that we are not the only Asserters of this Doctrine since the Dayes of Christ and the holy Apostles we have of many more given some Instances and Testimonies of such primitive Christians Martyrs and Fathers who were of the same Mind and Judgment with us in this Case and suffered in their Day by the Heathens Popes and Popish Cruelty for the same Example 1. Policarpus a Martyr for the Christian Faith Ex Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 4. c. 15. who is said to be a Disciple of John the Evangelist and an Overseer or Bishop in Smirna being apprehended and brought before the Proconsul of Smirna was demanded to Swear by the Emperors good Fortune or Caesar's Prosperity which was then their national Oath he absolutely denyed saying He was a Christian But said the Proconsul take thine Oath and I will discharge thee Anno Christi 162. defie Christ who said swear not Policarpus answered 86. Years have I been his Servant yet in all this time he never hurt me so denying to swear which was then a Mark of Distinction and alledging in lieu thereof that he was a Christian was committed to the Flames Fox Acts Mon. Vol. 1. Fol. 55. Example 2. Pontius a Youth of 15. Years old and Blandina a Woman who both endured great Torments Euseb L. 5. ca. 10. and at last Death by the Heathens in France in the Reign of Antonius Verus about Anno 179. refused to Swear being often urged Example 3. Basilides a Souldier and of Authority in the Roman Host Euseb Lib. cap. 5. being required to give an Oath in a Matter concerning his Fellow-Souldiers denyed to do it plainly affirming He was a Christian for which he suffered Death about Anno Christi 205. Fox Mon. 1 Vol. Fol. 71. Example 4. In the Plow-Man's Complaint is this amongst many others viz. Lord thou givest us a Commandment of Truth in bidding us say yea yea nay nay and Swear for nothing but Lord he that calleth himself thy Vicar on Earth viz. the Pope hath broken thy Commandment for he makes a Law to compel Men to Swear Example 5. John Wickliff that eminent Opposer of the Popish Doctines and Traditions King Ric. 2. Anno 1384. who was by the Pope and his Officiaries 41 Years after his decease pronounced a Heretick and his Bones and Books being 200. Volumns were burned for asserting promulging heretical and damnable Doctrines against their then holy Church c. as was alledged was articled against amongst other Doctrines for holding forth That all Oaths which be made for any Contract or civil Bargain betwixt man and man were unlawful Fox Acts and Mon. 1 Vol. Fol. 587. 1 Obs Of whose Learning and good Life the University of Oxford Anno 1406. give a publick Testimony amongst other things asserting Ex 2 tom operum Jo. Hussi Fol. ult that all his Conditions and Doings throughou this whole Life to have been most sincere and commendable 2. Obser John Husse and Jerom of Prague were also publick Assertors of his Doctrine and Vindicators of his Principles against the Papish for which they were condemned by them as Hereticks Example 6. Will. Swinderly within the Diocess of Lincoln persecuted by the Papish for holding Heretical Opinions K. Ric. 2. Anno. 1389. the 14th Article against him was that he should say That no Man ought to swear for any thing but simply without an Oath to affirm or deny and if he swear he sins Fox Acts and Mon. 1 Vol. fol. 614. To which or to the Substance thereof he declares his Mind and Opinion in his Appeal from the Bishops Sentence to King R. 2. and his Counsel