Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
conscience_n sin_n soul_n wound_v 2,163 5 9.3309 5 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A54468 Persecution for conscience condemned by the light of nature. Law of God. Evidence of our own principles. 1683 (1683) Wing P1659; ESTC R221445 7,510 15

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

PERSECUTION FOR CONSCIENCE CONDEMNED By the Light of Nature Law of God Evidence of our own Principles Jam. 2.12 So speak you and so do as they that are judged by the Law of Liberty for they shall be judged without Mercy that have shewed no Mercy LONDON Printed for Langley Curtis at Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey's-Head near Fleet-bridge MDCLXXXIII PERSECUTION FOR CONSCIENCE c. HAving met lately with a Book Entituled Compulsion of Conscience Condemned so much stuffed with Digressions which gives an Umbrage to the Scope of the Matter and renders it tedious to the Reader moved me to set down these sentiments in short for the better Proof of the argument upon so material a Subject not wronging the Original nor reflecting upon any particular perswasion but for the the general good of all Which is as followeth Since we have so happily shaken of that intollerable Yoke of Popish Infallibility which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear it is become to us not only Tyrannical but Absurd to compel others to a way that our selves confess may possibly be erroneous If any opinion be probably true persecution in that case is certainly unlawful because otherwise both sides for both are probable if one be might justifiably persecute one another to the utter destruction of all Society We see one Parliament repeals those Articles of Faith which a former Enacted that form of Worship which the Laws had introduced in after times was generally exploded and since that a Reformation Sealed with so solemn a Covenant and carried on with so furious a zeal was soon discovered to better lights to be merely human and therefore deservedly laid aside how preposterous is it then to constrain a soul not only to forsake his conscience which may be truth but drive him contrary to his own heart to a way that may be errour Since the Word of God is the sole Rule of Faith and no human Authority so highly impowred as to bind up our assents to whatsoever Interpretation it shall please to propose It clearly follows that as all the Children of God have equal Interest in the Testament of their Father so no one amongst them has any right to impose or force upon the Judgment of his Brother one holds Baptism of Children to be necessary another esteems it unlawful a third denys both these Opinions admitting well that it may but not that it must be done They confer Texts look into Original Tongues pray incessantly to God and profess solemnly the sincerity of their intention yet after all their dilligences and Devotions stedfastly remain in their former perswasion truly for my part he that should advise Persecution in such a Case unless his Fire brought Light too with it to demonstrate the Truth would scarce satisfie my suspition that his Coals were fetcht from the Infernal Pit If we reflect upon the Difficulties that encounter us in the way to truth for strait is the Gate and narrow is the Path and withal consider the shortness of our sight for here we see but in part and understand but in part There will appear more reason to endeavour the mutual Assistance and support than malicious ruine and destruction one of another However since all have neither equal depth of Natural Judgment nor the same measure of supernatural Illumination but the Spirit bloweth how and where it pleaseth we ought not to attempt so high a presumption as to despise or persecute our Brother for his innocent and blameless mistakes lest we be found to fight against God who is the free Disposer of his Gifts we know the way of man is not in himself Jer. 10.23 but his steps are ruled by the Lord Prov. 20.24 Therefore certainly did we bear a due respect to God we would be content to wait his Leisure who have ingaged himself by his Apostle Phil. 3.15 If any man be otherwise minded God shall in time reveal even this unto him Let us therefore entertain such an one who proceeds in the simplicity of his heart with Milk till he grow stronger to digest strong Meat All Compulsion upon the Conscience returns us flatly to our old Slavery under the Prelates nay more to the implicite Faith of the Papists with this only difference that we are worse than either because our Consciences accuse us of doing that which we condemn in others for whatsoever I am convinced of proceeds from as great a Tyranny as the High Commission and is as blind an Assent as can be matched in the grossest Popery and dare we think that doing the same things we judge in others we shall escape the Judgment of God Rom. 2.3 Force is punishment and consequently not just unless the offence be voluntary but he that believes according to the Evidence of his own reason is necessitated to that belief and to compell him against it were to drive him to renounce the most essential part of Man his Reason Why should we be commanded to try the Spirits 1 John 4.1 To prove all Things 1 Thess 5.21 If there be not a Faculty in the Soul to judge for her self why are we enjoyned to hold fast that which we find to be best if after our most serious and deliberate Election we shall be whipt out of our Conscience by penalties to what purpose do we preach poor Souls into just so much Liberty of Scripture as may beget their Tortures and not permit them to rest where they find satisfaction either prohibite to search at all or leave us sensible of some benefit by teaching to believe what appears untrue seems to me impossible to profess what we believe untrue I am sure is damnable As it is certain whosoever swerves from the Dictate of his Conscience commits a grievous Sin Rom. 14. so without question they that endeavour by force or artifice to draw any Man to profess or act contrary to what his Soul believes are as deeply guilty of the same crime When you wound the weak Consciences of your Brethren you sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8.12 how dangerously then do they expose themselves to the just Indignation of God who by Oaths Imprisonments Forfeitures c. both drive others and fall themselves into eternal perdition how desperately do they attempt to extinguish the Light of Nature which indispensably obliges all men to deal with others as they would be dealt with themselves a Light placed by God in clear and candid Souls to shine and guide them but in the black ones to condemn and burn them I shall close this Discourse with the Advice of the Apostle Rom. 14.13 Let us therefore use our judgment rather in this that no man put a stumbling block before his Brother In this my second part I will set down unanswerable Texts of Scripture against the ill practice of Coercency in Religion Nor are these so excellent and important Truths built only upon the firm Foundation of solid Reason but also upon the Infallible Authority of evident Scripture 2 Tim.