Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	humane_a	law_n	obligation_n	1,134	5	9.8189	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40050	Four grand questions proposed, and briefly answered wherein is discoursed, the authority and duty of the magistrate in the matters of religion, the unlawfulness of a toleration and general liberty of conscience, the divine right of Christian liberty in things indifferent, the unlawfulness of repealing the laws against Popery and idolatry.		1689 (1689)	Wing F1655; ESTC R20387	25,185	33

know_v and_o profess_v not_o only_o to_o provide_v that_o the_o ignorant_a and_o erroneous_a people_n may_v be_v well_o instruct_v in_o the_o true_a religion_n but_o also_o to_o prohibit_v and_o suppress_v the_o public_a profession_n and_o practice_n of_o idolatry_n heresy_n blasphemy_n and_o suchlike_a as_o be_v so_o repugnant_a and_o prejudicial_a to_o the_o true_a religion_n which_o he_o be_v oblige_v to_o promote_v and_o maintain_v but_o to_o give_v a_o toleration_n of_o these_o and_o of_o all_o religion_n whatsoever_o be_v so_o far_o from_o suppress_v it_o that_o it_o be_v not_o only_o a_o allowance_n of_o it_o but_o a_o kind_n of_o set_v it_o up_o second_o it_o may_v be_v further_o prove_v unlawful_a from_o the_o command_n of_o god_n on_o the_o magistracy_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n to_o suppress_v all_o false_a prophet_n teacher_n and_o idolater_n deut._n 13._o 2_o 6_o 10._o three_o from_o the_o example_n of_o all_o good_a king_n and_o magistrate_n that_o do_v so_o and_o be_v approve_v for_o so_o do_v and_o last_o from_o the_o great_a injury_n and_o hurt_n that_o the_o cause_n of_o true_a religion_n and_o the_o church_n of_o god_n be_v like_a to_o receive_v by_o such_o a_o toleration_n by_o give_v occasion_n to_o satan_n by_o false_a teacher_n to_o infest_v the_o church_n with_o the_o seed_n of_o false_a doctrine_n and_o to_o corrupt_v the_o pure_a worship_n of_o god_n with_o idolatry_n and_o superstition_n which_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n as_o a_o watchman_n over_o the_o church_n shall_v labour_v to_o prevent_v this_o in_o short_a may_v serve_v sufficient_o to_o demonstrate_v the_o unreasonableness_n and_o great_a impiety_n of_o such_o a_o toleration_n but_o because_o a_o general_a toleration_n under_o the_o specious_a pretence_n of_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n have_v be_v and_o be_v a_o matter_n so_o vehement_o argue_v for_o by_o many_o i_o shall_v a_o little_a inquire_v into_o the_o nature_n and_o ground_n of_o this_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n plead_v for_o by_o which_o i_o presume_v most_o understand_v nothing_o else_o but_o a_o exemption_n from_o the_o obligation_n of_o all_o humane_a law_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n therefore_o i_o shall_v in_o the_o first_o place_n examine_v those_o ground_n upon_o which_o such_o a_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n seem_v to_o be_v claim_v and_o plead_v for_o which_o be_v find_v rot_v and_o unsound_a such_o a_o toleration_n will_v then_o further_o appear_v unlawful_a to_o be_v give_v by_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n and_o then_o second_o i_o shall_v further_o examine_v what_o that_o lawful_a liberty_n be_v in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n which_o of_o divine_a right_a aught_o to_o be_v allow_v by_o the_o magistrate_n to_o every_o christian_a first_o concern_v such_o a_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n as_o be_v oppose_v to_o all_o human_a law_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n i_o shall_v inquire_v into_o these_o thing_n first_o what_o obligation_n of_o humane_a law_n there_o be_v upon_o the_o conscience_n in_o the_o thing_n of_o religion_n second_o whether_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n do_v exempt_a from_o the_o obligation_n of_o just_a law_n three_o whether_o the_o consideration_n of_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n under_o the_o infliction_n of_o a_o penalty_n on_o such_o a_o person_n to_o be_v unjust_a of_o these_o very_o brief_o first_o as_o to_o the_o obligation_n of_o humane_a law_n upon_o the_o conscience_n we_o acknowledge_v that_o it_o be_v only_o the_o law_n of_o god_n that_o do_v immediate_o bind_v the_o conscience_n because_o the_o conscience_n be_v only_a subject_n to_o god_n and_o under_o his_o authority_n alone_o the_o magistrate_n have_v only_a power_n over_o the_o body_n and_o outward_a practice_n but_o yet_o nevertheless_o the_o conscience_n be_v bind_v by_o the_o law_n of_o god_n to_o obey_v all_o lawful_a and_o just_a command_n of_o the_o magistrate_n now_o those_o law_n of_o the_o magistrate_n about_o religion_n that_o be_v but_o the_o enforcement_n of_o god_n own_o command_n and_o institution_n have_v a_o double_a obligation_n upon_o the_o conscience_n both_o by_o virtue_n of_o the_o immediate_a divine_a authority_n appoint_v they_o as_o also_o from_o the_o command_n of_o god_n require_v obedience_n to_o humane_a authority_n chief_o in_o such_o thing_n second_o neither_o do_v a_o erroneous_a conscience_n exempt_a from_o the_o obligation_n of_o just_a law_n for_o though_o every_o man_n have_v a_o judgement_n of_o private_a discretion_n in_o and_o about_o what_o he_o ought_v to_o do_v in_o religion_n yet_o if_o he_o judge_v erroneous_o of_o what_o be_v just_o require_v by_o law_n to_o be_v do_v his_o judgement_n and_o erroneous_a conscience_n therein_o do_v not_o exempt_v he_o from_o the_o obligation_n of_o those_o command_n for_o though_o it_o be_v true_a that_o he_o sin_n in_o act_v against_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n yet_o he_o ought_v to_o lay_v it_o down_o and_o then_o to_o act_v and_o if_o it_o be_v a_o necessary_a duty_n he_o sin_n if_o he_o do_v not_o three_o neither_o will_v the_o infliction_n of_o a_o penalty_n be_v unjust_a that_o be_v lay_v on_o a_o person_n for_o do_v or_o omit_v that_o which_o he_o be_v lead_v to_o by_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n this_o be_v the_o grand_a mistake_n about_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n that_o because_o every_o man_n have_v a_o liberty_n to_o judge_v for_o himself_o what_o he_o ought_v to_o do_v in_o religion_n that_o therefore_o if_o he_o judge_v erroneous_o yet_o he_o ought_v to_o be_v tolerate_v in_o so_o do_v no_o he_o ought_v to_o lay_v down_o his_o erroneous_a conscience_n or_o else_o as_o he_o sin_n so_o he_o just_o suffer_v from_o authority_n in_o follow_v the_o dictate_v of_o it_o but_o that_o he_o sin_n in_o follow_v a_o erroneous_a conscience_n i_o think_v no_o one_o of_o sense_n will_v deny_v for_o if_o it_o be_v lawful_a for_o a_o man_n to_o act_v in_o religion_n according_a to_o the_o dictate_v of_o his_o own_o conscience_n when_o it_o be_v erroneous_a then_o it_o be_v lawful_a for_o he_o to_o commit_v idolatry_n speak_v blasphemy_n etc._n etc._n if_o his_o conscience_n lead_v he_o to_o it_o therefore_o if_o the_o plea_n of_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n will_v not_o free_v a_o man_n from_o the_o gild_n of_o those_o sin_n that_o he_o be_v lead_v into_o by_o it_o then_o certain_o it_o will_v not_o exempt_v a_o man_n from_o the_o just_a obligation_n of_o punishment_n from_o the_o magistrate_n for_o those_o sin_n who_o be_v the_o avenger_n of_o god_n against_o all_o evil_a doer_n and_o the_o magistrate_n do_v offer_v no_o violence_n to_o conscience_n by_o either_o require_v obedience_n or_o exact_v the_o penalty_n for_o disobedience_n to_o just_a and_o righteous_a command_n for_o if_o man_n erroneous_a conscience_n will_v not_o suffer_v they_o to_o obey_v it_o be_v no_o force_n upon_o conscience_n for_o the_o outward_a man_n to_o bear_v the_o penalty_n but_o beside_o if_o such_o a_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n be_v due_a to_o every_o man_n as_o shall_v exempt_v he_o from_o the_o obligation_n of_o all_o humane_a law_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n it_o will_v then_o follow_v that_o the_o magistrate_n have_v no_o authority_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n and_o so_o it_o will_v null_a the_o chief_a part_n of_o his_o office_n for_o where_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n to_o obedience_n there_o can_v be_v no_o authority_n to_o command_v those_o be_v correlative_n and_o can_v be_v one_o without_o the_o other_o but_o to_o conclude_v this_o particular_a if_o it_o be_v so_o as_o we_o have_v prove_v that_o the_o conscience_n be_v bind_v by_o such_o humane_a law_n the_o matter_n of_o which_o be_v the_o enforcement_n of_o god_n own_o command_n and_o institution_n and_o that_o if_o a_o erroneous_a conscience_n do_v not_o exempt_v a_o man_n from_o the_o obligation_n of_o such_o law_n nor_o render_v the_o penalty_n inflict_v for_o break_v of_o they_o to_o be_v unjust_a then_o certain_o there_o be_v no_o such_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n as_o a_o exemption_n from_o all_o humane_a law_n about_o religion_n due_a to_o any_o christian_a and_o therefore_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v grant_v by_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n second_o i_o proceed_v now_o to_o the_o second_o thing_n propose_v to_o wit_n what_o that_o lawful_a liberty_n be_v in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n which_o of_o divine_a right_a aught_o to_o be_v allow_v by_o the_o magistrate_n for_o though_o we_o have_v assert_v and_o prove_v the_o duty_n and_o power_n of_o the_o magistrate_n to_o make_v law_n for_o the_o promotion_n and_o maintenance_n of_o true_a religion_n yet_o we_o may_v not_o think_v that_o the_o magistrate_n can_v by_o law_n entrench_v upon_o any_o of_o the_o right_n liberty_n and_o privilege_n which_o of_o divine_a right_n do_v belong_v to_o the_o christian_a religion_n which_o he_o be_v oblige_v to_o maintain_v every_o christian_n

people_n judgement_n of_o private_a discretion_n do_v not_o disoblige_v they_o from_o obedience_n nor_o render_v they_o inculpable_a when_o they_o judge_v erroneous_o of_o what_o be_v require_v therefore_o each_o party_n both_o ruler_n and_o subject_n shall_v be_v very_o careful_a to_o judge_v aright_o namely_o the_o ruler_n in_o judge_v nothing_o fit_a to_o be_v command_v in_o religion_n but_o what_o be_v evident_o lawful_a and_o necessary_a and_o then_o their_o command_n be_v bind_v and_o the_o subject_n shall_v be_v very_o careful_a not_o to_o judge_v erroneous_o of_o the_o command_v of_o authority_n for_o than_o they_o just_o suffer_v for_o disobedience_n each_o party_n indeed_o must_v judge_v for_o so_o much_o as_o concern_v themselves_o and_o their_o own_o duty_n both_o authority_n in_o command_v and_o the_o people_n in_o obey_v but_o the_o judgement_n of_o neither_o do_v change_v the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o so_o as_o to_o make_v that_o lawful_a and_o necessary_a or_o unlawful_a and_o not_o necessary_a that_o be_v not_o real_o so_o in_o themselves_o but_o we_o find_v that_o this_o argument_n of_o enforce_v obedience_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n mere_o from_o the_o judgement_n of_o authority_n be_v never_o make_v use_n of_o but_o when_o man_n want_v sufficient_a force_n of_o argument_n from_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o than_o they_o flee_v to_o the_o judgement_n and_o obligation_n of_o authority-commanding_a which_o indeed_o will_v equal_o hold_v in_o popery_n itself_o upon_o supposition_n that_o the_o authority_n either_o civil_a or_o ecclesiastical_a be_v a_o lawful_a authority_n that_o command_v but_o this_o objection_n be_v of_o no_o force_n in_o such_o thing_n wherein_o it_o be_v acknowledge_v that_o there_o be_v no_o necessity_n in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o why_o they_o shall_v be_v impose_v beside_o the_o will_n of_o authority_n command_v it_o there_o the_o obligation_n to_o obedience_n be_v urge_v mere_o from_o the_o will_n of_o authority_n require_v it_o and_o not_o their_o judgement_n of_o the_o necessary_a usefulness_n of_o such_o thing_n but_o what_o force_n and_o obligation_n the_o mere_a will_n of_o authority_n have_v in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n without_o sound_a reason_n from_o the_o matter_n require_v we_o shall_v have_v occasion_n to_o say_v somewhat_o unto_o under_o the_o next_o question_n thus_o i_o have_v endeavour_v with_o all_o possible_a brevity_n to_o demonstrate_v what_o that_o lawful_a liberty_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n be_v which_o the_o christian_a magistrate_n shall_v just_o allow_v to_o every_o man_n but_o to_o allow_v a_o unlimited_a toleration_n in_o the_o practice_n of_o religion_n be_v to_o run_v into_o the_o contrary_a extreme_a of_o impose_v unnecessary_a and_o doubtful_a thing_n and_o it_o be_v to_o be_v suppose_v that_o much_o of_o that_o mistake_n that_o have_v be_v about_o a_o toleration_n have_v come_v to_o pass_v by_o not_o due_o consider_v this_o golden_a mean_a of_o liberty_n only_o in_o unnecessary_a thing_n in_o religion_n between_o the_o two_o extreme_n of_o unnecessary_a imposition_n and_o a_o unlimited_a toleration_n but_o as_o the_o former_a be_v bad_a be_v against_o christian_a liberty_n and_o charity_n yet_o the_o latter_a be_v much_o worse_o because_o it_o tend_v to_o subvert_v the_o christian_a faith_n and_o to_o overthrow_v all_o government_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n quest_n iii_o whether_o it_o be_v lawful_a for_o subject_n to_o give_v their_o actual_a consent_n to_o a_o general_a toleration_n answ_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v in_o the_o negative_a that_o they_o may_v not_o and_o indeed_o there_o will_v be_v occasion_n to_o say_v but_o little_a in_o answer_n to_o this_o question_n for_o have_v before_o prove_v in_o answer_n to_o the_o forego_n question_n that_o the_o magistrate_n may_v not_o lawful_o allow_v such_o a_o toleration_n it_o will_v thence_o follow_v that_o the_o subject_n may_v not_o consent_v to_o it_o for_o by_o consent_v to_o that_o which_o be_v unlawful_o do_v by_o other_o we_o become_v partly_o guilty_a of_o the_o evil_a so_o do_v but_o yet_o it_o may_v be_v proper_a for_o we_o under_o this_o question_n to_o inquire_v whether_o it_o may_v come_v under_o the_o charge_n of_o a_o assent_n to_o such_o a_o toleration_n to_o practice_v some_o liberty_n in_o the_o exercise_n of_o religion_n that_o be_v restrain_v by_o law_n when_o it_o be_v allow_v by_o such_o a_o toleration_n i_o shall_v answer_v this_o in_o these_o three_o particular_n 1._o that_o such_o a_o liberty_n in_o religion_n as_o consist_v only_o in_o a_o exemption_n from_o the_o obligation_n of_o thing_n in_o their_o own_o nature_n unnecessary_a doubtful_a or_o scandalous_a may_v lawful_o be_v practise_v though_o the_o same_o be_v restrain_v by_o law_n 2._o that_o there_o be_v no_o scandal_n give_v by_o the_o practice_n of_o such_o a_o liberty_n 3._o nor_o any_o assent_n thereby_o to_o a_o general_a toleration_n 1._o that_o such_o a_o liberty_n in_o religion_n as_o consist_v only_o in_o a_o exemption_n or_o omission_n of_o thing_n in_o their_o own_o nature_n unnecessary_a doubtful_a or_o scandalous_a may_v lawful_o be_v practise_v though_o the_o same_o be_v restrain_v by_o law_n because_o the_o matter_n of_o such_o law_n can_v be_v obligatory_a upon_o the_o conscience_n by_o virtue_n of_o any_o law_n of_o god_n there_o be_v no_o divine_a law_n upon_o which_o to_o bottom_n &_o authorise_v such_o law_n which_o be_v necessary_a in_o all_o law_n about_o religion_n as_o we_o have_v before_o note_v and_o wherein_o there_o be_v no_o authority_n to_o require_v therein_o can_v be_v no_o obligation_n from_o the_o command_n to_o obey_v and_o the_o mere_a will_n of_o authority_n can_v lay_v no_o obligation_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o religion_n but_o much_o more_o when_o any_o humane_a law_n about_o indifferent_a thing_n do_v interfere_v with_o the_o law_n of_o god_n of_o avoid_v scandal_n in_o such_o indifferent_a thing_n there_o certain_o such_o law_n do_v lose_v their_o force_n and_o obligation_n because_o the_o obligation_n from_o humane_a authority_n cease_v and_o become_v void_a when_o a_o previous_a and_o great_a obligation_n to_o the_o law_n of_o god_n be_v to_o take_v place_n by_o which_o we_o be_v oblige_v not_o to_o do_v that_o about_o religion_n which_o be_v in_o itself_o not_o necessary_a be_v in_o its_o use_n scandalous_a to_o many_o and_o indeed_o such_o law_n that_o enforce_v the_o observation_n of_o such_o thing_n doubtful_a and_o scandalous_a in_o religion_n seem_v to_o lose_v the_o force_n of_o law_n and_o to_o be_v void_a in_o themselves_o have_v not_o the_o proper_a matter_n nor_o answer_v the_o end_n of_o law_n and_o therefore_o a_o liberty_n in_o omit_v such_o thing_n though_o enjoin_v by_o law_n be_v lawful_a to_o be_v practise_v 2._o and_o that_o there_o be_v no_o scandal_n give_v by_o the_o practice_n of_o such_o a_o liberty_n for_o it_o may_v be_v say_v that_o though_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n either_o from_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o thing_n require_v or_o from_o authority_n require_v it_o to_o use_v some_o indifferent_a thing_n yet_o they_o be_v indifferent_a we_o be_v bind_v to_o use_v they_o to_o avoid_v scandal_n to_o authority_n and_o to_o other_o that_o will_v be_v scandalize_v by_o our_o omit_v they_o and_o therefore_o upon_o this_o ground_n divers_a learned_a conformist_n have_v think_v it_o lawful_a to_o omit_v the_o ceremony_n enjoin_v by_o law_n when_o scandal_n do_v not_o follow_v be_v neither_o necessary_a in_o themselves_o nor_o from_o the_o command_n of_o authority_n any_o further_a than_o in_o the_o case_n of_o scandal_n here_o we_o may_v observe_v that_o such_o as_o esteem_v such_o thing_n not_o mere_o indifferent_a but_o doubtful_a in_o themselves_o if_o not_o unlawful_a can_v be_v oblige_v to_o use_v they_o to_o avoid_v scandal_n to_o other_o but_o if_o they_o be_v but_o mere_o indifferent_a in_o their_o own_o nature_n yet_o prove_v scandalous_a to_o many_o and_o upon_o supposition_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o we_o have_v prove_v that_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n from_o authority_n in_o such_o indifferent_a thing_n when_o they_o become_v scandalous_a it_o will_v then_o follow_v that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o scandal_n give_v by_o omit_v they_o though_o scandal_n be_v take_v or_o though_o in_o the_o use_n of_o a_o unnecessary_a thing_n in_o religion_n we_o real_o give_v scandal_n yet_o by_o the_o omission_n of_o it_o be_v now_o give_v though_o scandal_n may_v be_v take_v thereupon_o because_o scandal_n give_v arise_v either_o out_o of_o the_o omission_n of_o something_o necessary_a to_o be_v do_v or_o do_v something_o either_o unlawful_a or_o unnecessary_a though_o lawful_a now_o if_o the_o command_n of_o authority_n do_v not_o make_v that_o in_o religion_n not_o necessary_a in_o itself_o to_o become_v necessary_a when_o scandal_n follow_v as_o