Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A52177
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A friendly admonition, or, Good counsel to the Roman Catholicks in this kingdom by Martin Mason.
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Mason, Martin, fl. 1650-1676.
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1662
(1662)
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Wing M929; ESTC R15732
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4,338
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10
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A FRIENDLY ADMONITION OR Good Counsel TO THE Roman Catholicks IN THIS KINGDOM By MARTIN MASON Printed in the Year 1662. A friendly Admonition or good Counsel to the Roman Catholicks in this Kingdome SHall I need to tell you that this small Transcript in the tenderness of my love is sent unto you Or can you believe me that in the integrity of my soul for the good of yours this friendly Admonition is thus published by me If so then possibly it may meet with a kind reception from you But however I must deal plainly with you and when I have cleared my Conscience to you whether you hear or forbear I shall be clear of you in the day of the Lord. Ever since Cain contracted upon himself the innocent blood of his Brother Abel the Seed of Innocency hath suffered wrong and injury and met with Persecution from the spirit of Enmity The truth of this Assertion is so clear to the wisest of you that I need not trouble my self to prove it to you That the Church of Christ is of a Lamb-like Spirit clothed with Innocency Meekness Love Pitty and Compassion to all people the wise in heart amongst you cannot but acknowledge so I send you said Christ as Sheep amongst Wolves And were not they harmless Sheep indeed and did they not meet with many Wolves Did ever any of the true Followers of the lamb put on a wolvish spirit or use carnal violence to win a Convert Or did ever external compulsion convert a Sinner unto God Are not the Tares and the Wheat to grow together c. Is it not an undeniable Truth That which is not of Faith is sin and Faith is the gift of God Is not conversion of a soul from sin the inward work of the Spirit of God Can any thing draw the mind to God but the holy Spirit of God Did ever Persecution obtain its desired end and bring a blessing upon the Persecutors These things premised let me expostulate a little further â—ith you Have you not formerly been in a suffering-state your selves more or less concerning the exercise of your Consciences towards God hath not the Rod of Authority heretofore been held over you and a bridle to you Have not some of the Laws seemed to discountenance you Are there not yet penal Laws in being though little made use of against you Did you not count it hard measure when the yoak of the Prelates was upon you Did you not earnestly and submissively then plead for Liberty to tender Consciences would you not then have been pectorally glad of that Indulgence which the Clemency of the King now vouchsafes unto you Was it not then esteemed a Persecution by you when the Laws at any time were put in execution against you How ordinary was it with you to plead for Toleration and now that you have it can you not therewith be contented Be not so ingrateful unto God nor so unworthy to your King as to slight the Mercies of the Lord and abuse the Favour of your Prince What must you needs monopolize Caesar to your selves must the Sun shine upon no ground but your own How comes it that you are or would be esteemed so transcendently deserving of that Royal Priviledge above all other People Certainly God intends it not to the best of the sons of men Is it not Favour sufficient for you that Caesar smiles upon you but you must turn his frowns towards us and set the edge of his Authority against an Innocent People Is not his suspention of the penal Laws against you a large demonstration of his Princely Favour to you What will nothing but the Throne content you Certainly that will set the affections of many thousands in the Nation against you O that there were more true Humility amongst you that the Wisdom of God were with you that this Ambitious Itch were taken from you and the pure Love and Innocency of the Lamb of God more abounded in you Certainly it would be far safer for you to rest where you are than to rise up and fall for God will make War with Amalek to all Generations Never shall any People prosper who use Persecution and seek to establish their Religion by a carnal Compulsion Conscience is Christ's Throne Kings and Lovers do not use to love Corrivals Be wise therefore in time and take not too much upon you lest that which you have be taken from you Say not within your selves the Strength of the Nation now is for us Come let us inrich our selves in the Ruines of the People for though the God of our Innocency may suffer you for a season to mount a little higher than yet you are yea if he should give you the necks of your enemies the proud Prelates and Presbyters to tread upon yet know this assuredly if your intentions be to build Sion with blood and force all others to bend unto you your design will deceive you the blood-thirsty spirit is not of God nor shall such as are guided by it live out half their dayes That spirit which seeketh its own honour more than the Praise of God ever meets with blastings instead of blessings from God You need not go far for a proof of this Assertion How many Over-turnings hath this Nation witnessed within these thirty years and all because Iniquity hath abounded God hath been dishonoured Solemn Engagements to God for Christian Liberty to his People violated and tender Consciences oppressed and shall the same if not greater sins lye at your door and the destroying Angel not enter into your houses if you repent not and give Glory to God If you find it so then you may say there is no God in Israel This therefore I have to say unto you and O that my words might be wisely pondered by you and get a good entrance into you Let not vain imaginations any longer deceive you for as sure as the Grapes of Sodom and the Fruits of Gomorrah are found amongst you the hand of God will overtake you Let his Witness search you and if he spared not others that are gone before you for their Treachery to God and Oppressing of his People think not you whose Idolatries and Sins be equal with or surmonnt theirs for where you have Power your little Fingers are heavier than their Loins to escape divine Justice for God will reckon with you and render a Reward unto you according to your Deeds I say be not deceived God will not be mocked such as you sow such shall you reap When therefore you are in the height of your strength let not Wisdom and Moderation be strangers to you nor a furious Spirit of Revenge be active in you Happy would it be for you could you conquer in Love first your own unreasonable wills and then with innocency love and patience win the Affections of the People Could you be as well contented to give Toleration to tender Consciences as not long since you were willing to take it