Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	good_a	heart_n	unfeigned_a	2,423	5	11.0927	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44149	A brief collection of certain instances of Holy Scripture, and ancient laws of England concurring against persecution, oppression and injustice, recomended to the serious consideration of all sincere friends to the King and kingdom / by William Holgate.	Holgate, William, fl. 1683-1686.	1686 (1686)	Wing H2415; ESTC R858	11,163	18

wicked Informers or such who have or will swear that people peaceably meet together to worship God are Riotters And the experience which Christendom had in these last Ages is argument enough that tolleration of differing Opinions is so far from disturbing the publick peace or destroying the interest of Princes or people that it doth advantage the publick it secures the peace because there is not so much as the pretence of Religion left to such persons to to contend for it being already indulged to them and they Industrious who desires to be serviceable in their Generations cannot but Love and Honour that Government that preserves them in the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of what 's their own free from Rapine and Spoil Eusebius in his second Book of the Life of Constantine reports these ' words of that great Emperor Let them which err with joy receive the like fruction of peace and quietness with the faithful sith the restoring of communion and society may bring them into the right way of Truth let none give molestation to any let every one do as he determines in his mind For it may be safe in diversity of perswasions and it is also part of Christian Religion that the liberty of mens Consciences should be preserved in all things where God hath not set a limit and this is his limitting power to do good unto all and to keep a Conscience clear both towards God and towards all men Now the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 He that followeth after Righteousness and Mercy findeth Life Righteousness and Honour Prov. 21.21 Mercy and Truth preserves the King and his Throne is upholden by Mercy Prov. 20.28 If therefore you would that God should preserve the King as for the mercy he hath shewed hitherto and that you would have his Throne to be upholder suffer not your selves to be over-awed or grown upon by a false merciless persecuting furious people whose conversations manifestly shew what it is their inclinations lead to that is to say Rapin and Spoil for covetous envious ends subverting the Laws to contrary ends then they seem to have been made as 22 Car 2. The Preface of which act is to prevent and suppress seditious Conventicles and such as at their Meetings under colour of Religion do or may contrive Insurrections as late experience hath shewn yet hath the bent of that Act by Coveteous men out of meer envy thereby rendering the Government cruel been greatly imployed against a peaceable people against whom neither plotting of hurt against any nor the least shew of Sedition ever been or proved against them Let it be observed what a great man of England once said discoursing of the hardship that many peaceable people in this Nation underwent by heard-hearted men spoke on this wise It is certainly a uneasie kind of life to any man that hath either Christian Charity good Nature or Humanity to see his fellow Subjects daily divested of their Liberties and Birth-rights and miserably thrown out of their Possessions and Free-Holds only because they cannot agree with others in some opinions and nicities of Religion which their Consciences will not give them leave to consent too and which even by the confession of those that would impose them are no way necessary to Salvation and that there is in this Nation a gross mistake as to the point of Government because it makes every man safely to depend upon the wrong place and not upon the Governours not a man living well towards this civil Government established by Law but upon his being transported with Zeal for every opinion that is held in the Church by those that have power and I conceive it is a mistake in Religion because it is positively against the express Doctrine of Christ Jesus Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods Matt 22.21 Doubtless to meet together to worship and wait singly upon God is a chief thing that is due unto him Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord harkened and heard it and a Book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name Malachi 3.16 Pauls advice is to avoid foolish and unlearned Questions knowing that they gender strife but the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those that opose themselves if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2.23 24 25 26. Then not to ruin any nor take by violence and force their Goods or Cattels nor throw them into Prison there to be destroyed if they have not their corrupt wills answered but what will be the Portion and Gods Sentence to all such their Aiders and Assistants if they repent not is recorded Mat. 25.41 42 43 44 45. And vers 46. And these shall go into everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Chrisostom said It is not the manner of the Children of God to Persecute others to death about their Religion but it hath been and is their condition to be put to Death themselves for the Testimony of the Truth Moreover said he the shedding of blood about Religion is an evident token of Antichrist Relig. Vris p. 192. Hewardus said That the best writers of that time did agree in one opinion and with Tertullian Lactantius Cassidorus and Josephus c. That people must inform men to imbrace Religion with Reason and not compel them by Violence Most certain it is That that Religion which is defended with Cruelty is not grounded upon the Word of God La●●antius said If you will with Blood with Evil and with Torments defend the Worship it shall not thereby be defended but polluted lib. 5. chap. 20. Where hast thou ever read in thy days said Menn● in the writings of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cryed out to the Magistrates for their Power against them that would not hear their Doctrine nor obey their words I know certainly said he that where the Magistrate shall banish with the Sword there is not the right knowledge of the Spiritual Word nor Church of Christ it is Invocare brachium seculare King James in his Speech to the Parliament in the Year 1609 said That it is a pure rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church with Violence and Blood and furthermore said It was usually the condition of Christians to be Persecuted but not to Persecute King Charles the first in his Book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 67. In his prayer to God Thou seest how much cruelty among Christians is acted under the colour of Religion as if we could not

be Christians unless we Crucifie one another Pag. 28. Make them at length seriously to consider that nothing Violent or Injurious can be Religious Pag. 70. Sure in matters of Religion those Truths gain most upon mens Judgements and Consciences which are least urged with secular violence which weakens Truth with prejudices Pag. 91 92. In point of true Conscientious tenderness I have often declared how little I desired my Laws and Scepter should intrench on Gods soveraignity which is the only King of mens Consciences Pag. 123. Nor do I desire any man should be subject unto me further then all of us may be subject unto God Pag. 76. The injoyning of Oathes upon people must needs in things doubtful be Dangerous as in things unlawful Damnable Pag. 1. In his prayer O never suffer me for any reason of State to go against the reason of Conscience which is highly to fight against thee the God of Reason and Judge of our Consciences Clear up our understandings to see thy Truth both in Reason as Men and in Religion as Christians Pag. 164. Church affairs should be managed neither with Tyranny Parity nor Popularity neither People oppressed In his Advice to his Son Charles 2. Your Prerogative is best shewed and exercised in remitting rather then exacting the rigour of the Law there being nothing worse then legal Tyranny Pag. 241. Alwayes kept up sollid Piety and those fundamental Truths which mend both hearts and lives of men with impartial favour and justice Pag. 228. Keep you to true Principles of Piety Vertue and Honour you shall never want a Kingdom Pag. 346. It is indeed a sad state for any man to have his Enemies to be Accuser Parties and Judge From the afore recited Testimonies and Precepts I observe Four weighty and undeniable Conclusions First That Mercy and Truth are two of the main Pillars that support the King and Kingdom Secondly That Obedience to Magistrates ought to be for Conscience sake and not for Fear or Wrath. Thirdly That no Violence or Injuries ought to be inflicted or done to any manner of Persons who makes Conscience of what they do and lives peaceably up to what it doth require because good Conscience is the bond of true Obedience according to the Scriptures therefore ought to be free and not compelled Fourthly That the Fundamental and good old Laws are the King and Kingdoms best security therefore not to be Sleighted Contemned or Undervalued Oh therefore you that would be accounted Loyal let your love to the King be without dissimulation for if you love him you will love that which supports him and by your Fruits you are and will be manifest Wherefore doth the way of the Wicked Prosper wherefore are all they Happy that deal very Treacheraosly Jer 12.1 If a man say he loves God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyer for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 John 4.20 And this Commandment we have from him That he who loveth God Loveth his Brother also vers 21. It is the great Commandment Christ taught his Disciples Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind this is the First and Great Commandment and the Second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22.37 38 39 40. This is the very perfection of Christian Religion the certain mark of a true Disciple Charge them that be Rich in this World that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good Works that they may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Which that every one may certainly have an earnest of here and the full enjoyment of happiness with God hereafter in that Life which shall never have an end is the breathing desire of William Holgate A Prisoner in York-Castle for believing that the Record of Scripture and Christs Command therein recorded ought to be obeyed Written in the 7th Month 1684. For Pride and Coveteousness Ambition Envy Revenge Self-Love Hypocrisie Contempt of Goodness Forced Opinion these and the like do breed the Worlds Consussion THE END