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place_n and_o perform_v their_o oath_n and_o they_o hope_v god_n will_v not_o judge_v they_o as_o sinner_n for_o do_v their_o duty_n according_a to_o their_o oath_n and_o that_o the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n may_v come_v though_o there_o be_v not_o one_o nonconformi_v leave_v among_o we_o noble_a gentleman_n a_o oath_n be_v sacred_a and_o the_o wilful_a violation_n of_o it_o a_o dreadful_a sin_n provoke_v the_o divine_a displeasure_n the_o case_n be_v hard_a and_o real_o worthy_a of_o serious_a thought_n for_o that_o learned_a and_o able_a find_v man_n though_o nonconformist_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v punish_v but_o on_o the_o contrary_a protect_v permit_v if_o not_o encourage_v shall_v be_v grant_v without_o any_o disputation_n the_o accusation_n of_o rebellion_n begin_v the_o war_n their_o canting_n and_o tone_n and_o fanaticism_n be_v real_o the_o abuse_n of_o ill-tempered_a man_n and_o of_o factious_a and_o narrow_a spirit_n wise_a sober_a just_a and_o charitable_a divine_n and_o christian_n that_o know_v their_o own_o defect_n what_o weak_a instrument_n god_n have_v use_v in_o his_o church_n for_o great_a service_n and_o what_o temptation_n attend_v their_o calling_n and_o how_o great_a a_o disadvantage_n to_o they_o and_o hindrance_n to_o their_o learning_n and_o proficiency_n their_o necessity_n force_v they_o to_o sell_v their_o study_n their_o many_o remove_n trouble_v in_o their_o family_n have_v bring_v upon_o they_o will_v think_v and_o speak_v otherwise_o of_o they_o and_o god_n have_v bear_v witness_n to_o many_o of_o they_o and_o give_v they_o gift_n not_o inferior_a to_o those_o that_o despise_v and_o expose_v they_o rather_o like_o poet_n and_o painter_n than_o wise_a impartial_a judge_n or_o witness_n or_o man_n of_o charity_n man_n in_o power_n shall_v look_v before_o they_o strike_v lest_o they_o pluck_v up_o any_o one_o of_o those_o plant_n which_o the_o heavenly_a father_n have_v plant_v and_o strike_v the_o apple_n of_o his_o eye_n and_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n it_o seem_v hard_a to_o censure_v magistrate_n for_o execute_v the_o law_n which_o seem_v to_o be_v a_o duty_n for_o satisfaction_n of_o this_o great_a doubt_n i_o do_v with_o all_o just_a honour_n to_o magistrate_n and_o respect_n to_o their_o conscience_n and_o comfort_n humble_o offer_v something_o 1._o it_o be_v clear_a and_o certain_a that_o no_o justice_n of_o the_o peace_n be_v bind_v by_o his_o oath_n or_o place_n to_o promote_v the_o disturbance_n or_o suffering_n of_o the_o nonconformist_n if_o any_o say_v they_o can_v see_v the_o law_n break_v true_a by_o rout_n and_o riotous_a meeting_n that_o violate_v the_o peace_n it_o be_v a_o fancy_n and_o a_o imaginary_a fear_n to_o say_v we_o do_v not_o know_v what_o mischief_n may_v be_v in_o the_o meeting_n of_o many_o hundred_o or_o few_o there_o be_v thousand_o meet_v at_o fair_n and_o market_n and_o too_o many_o be_v drink_v and_o disorderly_a and_o what_o fear_n be_v there_o of_o their_o meeting_n what_o disturbance_n to_o the_o peace_n what_o need_v of_o the_o militia_n to_o keep_v they_o quiet_a or_o to_o prevent_v insurrection_n what_o peril_n be_v there_o in_o the_o meeting_n of_o minister_n and_o christian_n of_o all_o sex_n and_o age_n unarm_v and_o innocent_a it_o be_v hard_o to_o think_v they_o can_v preach_v and_o pray_v and_o sing_v psalm_n but_o they_o must_v then_o speak_v treason_n move_v rebellion_n that_o in_o their_o civil_a conversation_n be_v as_o peaceable_a as_o other_o man_n and_o careful_a of_o word_n and_o action_n much_o less_o be_v it_o their_o duty_n to_o employ_v or_o encourage_v man_n of_o ill_a fame_n and_o break_a fortune_n to_o be_v witness_n against_o they_o even_o such_o as_o be_v not_o fit_a to_o follow_v their_o dog_n or_o rub_v their_o horse_n have_v be_v the_o most_o forward_o in_o inform_v 2._o when_o information_n be_v bring_v before_o they_o this_o be_v also_o certain_a that_o except_o it_o be_v prove_v by_o better_a testimony_n than_o what_o 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office_n to_o punish_v they_o if_o upon_o the_o common_a information_n that_o be_v give_v that_o such_o a_o man_n preach_v and_o such_o be_v present_a and_o no_o such_o word_n tend_v to_o rebellion_n prove_v or_o offer_v to_o be_v prove_v then_o i_o beseech_v you_o consider_v whether_o upon_o pretence_n of_o prevent_v or_o punish_v seditious_a meeting_n you_o real_o exercise_v your_o power_n to_o obstruct_v discourage_v or_o punish_v peaceable_a and_o good_a subject_n for_o religious_a exercise_n and_o so_o as_o it_o be_v a_o horrid_a wickedness_n in_o any_o man_n upon_o pretence_n of_o religious_a duty_n to_o carry_v ill_a design_n against_o the_o government_n so_o what_o be_v it_o to_o pretend_v ill_a delign_v where_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o much_o as_o imply_v in_o any_o discourse_n and_o to_o punish_v man_n for_o religious_a exercise_n 3._o it_o be_v certain_a a_o justice_n may_v inquire_v and_o try_v the_o fitness_n of_o the_o witness_n whether_o they_o be_v idoneous_a boni_fw-la &_o legales_fw-la homines_fw-la they_o shall_v be_v man_n of_o knowledge_n and_o understanding_n of_o probity_n and_o truth_n and_o of_o estate_n man_n that_o know_v what_o they_o can_v attest_v punctual_a as_o to_o word_n speak_v and_o the_o true_a sense_n and_o scope_n of_o they_o and_o witness_n that_o will_v not_o lie_v that_o know_v what_o it_o be_v to_o swear_v and_o that_o fear_v a_o lie_n and_o the_o common_a sin_n of_o perjury_n if_o a_o man_n word_n can_v be_v take_v his_o oath_n may_v be_v refuse_v especial_o in_o a_o matter_n wherein_o his_o own_o gain_n be_v the_o prime_a motive_n to_o his_o testimony_n and_o swear_v in_o such_o a_o case_n it_o be_v great_a charity_n in_o the_o magistrate_n to_o dehort_v the_o informer_n from_o his_o swear_n ignorant_o rash_o or_o false_o and_o he_o can_v without_o great_a suspicion_n of_o sin_n if_o not_o plain_a sin_n forward_o take_v the_o testimony_n upon_o oath_n of_o ignorant_a ungodly_a and_o scandalous_a informer_n i_o never_o yet_o know_v or_o hear_v of_o any_o other_o sort_n of_o man_n that_o give_v testimony_n against_o the_o nonconformist_n as_o may_v appear_v in_o due_a time_n 4._o it_o be_v certain_a no_o justice_n be_v bind_v by_o oath_n to_o misapply_v the_o law_n either_o without_o respect_n to_o the_o scope_n of_o they_o or_o the_o person_n upon_o who_o they_o be_v execute_v i_o have_v take_v notice_n of_o this_o in_o the_o foregoing_a discourse_n i_o be_o now_o more_o confirm_v that_o the_o act_n of_o the_o 35th_o of_o elizabeth_n be_v a_o two-edged_a act_n but_o make_v and_o point_a more_o direct_o against_o the_o papist_n than_o any_o other_o in_o that_o parliament_n sir_n tho._n edgerton_n lord_n keeper_n sir_n rob._n cecil_n secretary_n of_o state_n sir_n john_n woolley_n sir_n john_n fortescue_n do_v all_o declare_v or_o confirm_v that_o the_o occasion_n of_o that_o parliament_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o religion_n the_o maintenance_n thereof_o the_o preservation_n of_o her_o majesty_n person_n and_o the_o good_a of_o the_o realm_n mark_v i_o beseech_v you_o the_o enemy_n of_o these_o be_v the_o king_n of_o spain_n and_o the_o pope_n the_o antichrist_n of_o rome_n say_v sir_n rob_n cecil_n 59_o ☜_o mr._n townshend_n historical_a collection_n of_o the_o four_o parl._n of_o queen_n elizabeth_n an._n 1593._o eliz._n 35th_o p._n 58_o 59_o from_o the_o holy_a league_n and_o the_o papist_n the_o holy_a league_n of_o the_o guisian_n to_o root_v out_o the_o protestant_n in_o france_n say_v sir_n john_n wolley_n they_o that_o speak_v before_o i_o speak_v sufficient_o of_o the_o author_n of_o our_o trouble_n say_v sir_n john_n fortescue_n i_o do_v look_v with_o great_a expectation_n for_o some_o full_a discovery_n of_o fear_n and_o danger_n from_o the_o puritan_n in_o those_o day_n but_o can_v not_o find_v a_o word_n concern_v any_o but_o the_o brownist_n which_o be_v
one_o against_o they_o there_o be_v no_o such_o preach_a and_o pray_v and_o perform_v good_a duty_n as_o be_v absolute_o perfect_a and_o free_a from_o all_o fault_n and_o oftentime_o in_o necessary_a ingredient_n and_o condition_n the_o best_a man_n fail_v this_o suppose_a the_o question_n arise_v be_v whether_o they_o who_o observe_v the_o call_v of_o god_n answer_v of_o their_o conscience_n need_n and_o benefit_n of_o soul_n be_v bless_v of_o god_n in_o their_o work_n though_o but_o in_o some_o measure_n do_v not_o do_v better_o to_o preach_v and_o pray_v at_o all_o hazard_n if_o otherwise_o it_o can_v be_v than_o if_o they_o do_v forbear_v because_o in_o one_o point_n they_o offend_v against_o a_o revokable_a law_n and_o for_o that_o how_o many_o circumstance_n do_v over-match_n that_o one_o first_o for_o their_o person_n they_o be_v else_o in_o all_o point_v subject_a to_o the_o law_n second_o for_o their_o doctrine_n ready_a to_o give_v a_o account_n three_o for_o the_o manner_n of_o do_v it_o be_v in_o a_o peaceable_a way_n without_o any_o kind_n of_o riot_n they_o meet_v and_o part_v as_o peaceable_o as_o any_o of_o our_o church-assembly_n do_v there_o be_v i_o say_v again_o no_o such_o performance_n of_o duty_n as_o be_v absolute_a faultless_a and_o perfect_a in_o all_o circumstance_n the_o duty_n they_o perform_v be_v religious_a defective_a only_o in_o outward_a form_n and_o be_v it_o not_o comparative_o better_a to_o perform_v they_o than_o forbear_v they_o and_o can_v he_o that_o punish_v they_o for_o such_o religious_a exercise_n neither_o material_o poisonous_a nor_o effectual_o poison_v subject_n ever_o be_v excuse_v from_o punish_v welldoing_a and_o for_o religion_n if_o these_o consideration_n have_v any_o reason_n in_o they_o obj._n it_o be_v not_o religion_n but_o their_o nonconformity_n to_o the_o law_n that_o be_v punish_v answ_n their_o nonconformity_n be_v punish_v once_o before_o by_o their_o loss_n of_o their_o live_n and_o temporal_a undo_n how_o often_o must_v the_o same_o man_n be_v punish_v for_o the_o same_o fault_n as_o you_o and_o not_o they_o account_v it_o obj._n they_o be_v man_n of_o ill_a design_n etc._n etc._n answ_n why_o do_v not_o you_o prosecute_v they_o as_o such_o if_o they_o be_v such_o and_o leave_v out_o their_o preach_a and_o pray_v out_o of_o your_o information_n and_o warrant_n obj._n if_o the_o execution_n of_o law_n shall_v be_v term_v persecution_n then_o woe_n to_o magistrate_n will_v any_o man_n dare_v to_o call_v it_o persecution_n this_o 〈◊〉_d the_o case_n etc._n etc._n answ_n all_o due_a reverence_n to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o magistrate_n premise_v the_o administrator_n of_o law_n may_v be_v guilty_a of_o undue_a prosecution_n and_o persecute_v man_n with_o good_a law_n merciless_a and_o uncharitable_a urge_n of_o good_a law_n beyond_o their_o intention_n and_o scope_n and_o with_o revenge_n and_o rigour_n upon_o the_o peccant_a be_v persecution_n in_o the_o common_a acceptation_n of_o men._n to_o conclude_v this_o disquisition_n it_o be_v undeniable_a that_o nothing_o but_o preach_v and_o pray_v and_o other_o religious_a exercise_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o trouble_n and_o suffering_n to_o very_a many_o who_o have_v not_o be_v at_o all_o molest_v but_o for_o those_o duty_n if_o there_o be_v a_o house_n full_a of_o friend_n or_o stranger_n that_o come_v and_o go_v in_o a_o peaceable_a manner_n yea_o although_o many_o or_o all_o of_o the_o man_n be_v arm_v with_o ordinary_a weapon_n if_o there_o be_v nothing_o but_o eat_v and_o drink_v and_o common_a discourse_n they_o be_v not_o molest_v yea_o if_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o their_o discourse_n be_v religious_a there_o be_v no_o information_n nor_o issue_v out_o of_o warrant_n but_o if_o there_o be_v a_o preacher_n among_o they_o and_o any_o solemnity_n in_o the_o duty_n of_o religion_n this_o become_v offensive_a and_o liable_a to_o the_o law_n it_o be_v the_o exercise_n of_o religion_n that_o give_v the_o offence_n and_o make_v the_o company_n guilty_a and_o how_o punishment_n fall_v upon_o such_o when_o meet_v without_o weapon_n or_o quarrel_v or_o disturbance_n of_o the_o peace_n to_o make_v it_o a_o riot_n but_o for_o religion_n be_v not_o to_o be_v think_v there_o be_v no_o question_n to_o be_v make_v but_o many_o justice_n have_v be_v guilty_a of_o gross_a persecution_n abuse_v the_o law_n to_o the_o service_n of_o their_o anger_n and_o revenge_n and_o have_v go_v beyond_o the_o law_n when_o they_o have_v want_v sufficient_a evidence_n either_o of_o preach_v pray_v or_o expound_v or_o of_o any_o preacher_n be_v in_o company_n but_o have_v tell_v the_o informer_n if_o they_o hear_v but_o a_o tone_n like_o preach_v it_o be_v sufficient_a it_o can_v be_v prove_v of_o one_o justice_n that_o without_o any_o other_o proof_n send_v out_o his_o warrant_n to_o levy_v upon_o the_o good_n of_o they_o that_o be_v present_a and_o i_o have_v see_v a_o copy_n of_o another_o warrant_n for_o levy_v of_o 20_o l._n when_o it_o be_v not_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v a_o preacher_n in_o the_o house_n if_o these_o be_v true_a than_o such_o executioner_n of_o justice_n do_v execute_v for_o religion_n and_o for_o no_o other_o offence_n such_o also_o as_o threaten_v they_o will_v not_o leave_v a_o meetinghouse_n stand_v who_o know_v bo_z h_o the_o preacher_n and_o their_o auditor_n to_o be_v peaceable_a person_n and_o can_v pretend_v any_o cause_n of_o fear_n from_o their_o assembly_n do_v threaten_v as_o displease_v with_o their_o religious_a exercise_n and_o for_o no_o other_o cause_n for_o if_o they_o can_v suffer_v many_o lazy_a irreligious_a person_n to_o absent_a from_o church_n and_o not_o punish_v they_o though_o they_o have_v no_o lawful_a cause_n of_o their_o absence_n and_o threaten_v to_o punish_v they_o that_o be_v religious_a but_o in_o another_o way_n it_o be_v not_o conscience_n and_o zeal_n of_o duty_n to_o the_o public_a worship_n that_o move_v they_o for_o than_o they_o will_v punish_v the_o lazy_a 〈◊〉_d idle_a or_o profane_a and_o say_v they_o will_v not_o suffer_v any_o person_n to_o be_v absent_a from_o the_o common-prayer_n but_o be_v zealous_a against_o some_o as_o against_o other_o but_o this_o be_v not_o the_o temper_n of_o all_o therefore_o i_o will_v not_o bring_v in_o a_o charge_n of_o persecution_n against_o all_o but_o i_o will_v endeavour_v to_o show_v what_o be_v require_v of_o a_o man_n that_o can_v be_v say_v to_o persecute_v and_o leave_v it_o to_o the_o examination_n and_o sentence_n of_o every_o man_n conscience_n 1._o he_o must_v be_v a_o know_a man_n not_o in_o christian_a religion_n in_o general_a only_o but_o in_o these_o controvert_v point_n about_o religion_n he_o must_v not_o be_v so_o senseless_a as_o to_o call_v religion_n sedition_n nor_o to_o make_v a_o different_a form_n to_o be_v a_o different_a religion_n or_o that_o religion_n be_v subvert_v by_o a_o difference_n from_o some_o humane_a constitution_n he_o must_v be_v a_o know_a man_n lest_o he_o rush_v ignorant_o upon_o the_o servant_n of_o christ_n paul_n be_v a_o persecuter_n when_o he_o be_v ignorant_a ignorance_n do_v excuse_v he_o from_o the_o malice_n but_o not_o from_o the_o persecution_n he_o must_v not_o only_o think_v he_o do_v god_n good_a service_n for_o so_o do_v other_o who_o for_o all_o their_o thought_n do_v persecute_v the_o disciple_n but_o be_v sure_a he_o do_v god_n good_a service_n 2._o he_o must_v be_v a_o sincere_a lover_n of_o jesus_n christ_n of_o his_o holy_a ordinance_n of_o all_o that_o believe_v on_o he_o and_o that_o worship_v he_o for_o if_o he_o hate_v christ_n hate_v his_o gospel_n preach_v pray_v and_o religious_a duty_n or_o hate_v the_o disciple_n of_o christ_n he_o must_v needs_o be_v a_o persecutor_n and_o of_o the_o grosser_n sort_n 3._o he_o must_v be_v sincere_a in_o what_o he_o do_v for_o the_o thing_n which_o he_o do_v he_o must_v be_v satisfy_v that_o he_o do_v well_o and_o he_o must_v intend_v the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o the_o honour_n and_o preservation_n of_o religion_n in_o it_o if_o he_o pretend_v in_o his_o warrant_n sedition_n or_o evil_a design_n when_o there_o be_v none_o he_o act_v false_o and_o pretend_v that_o to_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o his_o command_n which_o he_o very_o know_v be_v not_o the_o cause_n as_o not_o be_v as_o much_o as_o allege_a or_o prove_v if_o he_o thus_o proceed_v he_o strike_v at_o religion_n under_o pretence_n of_o sedition_n and_o rebellion_n 4._o he_o must_v consider_v the_o circumstance_n of_o the_o person_n both_o preacher_n and_o hearer_n the_o time_n of_o their_o meeting_n the_o need_n they_o have_v in_o their_o place_n and_o other_o circumstance_n but_o if_o without_o examination_n or_o make_v any_o difference_n for_o his_o information_n he_o follow_v the_o story_n of_o the_o informer_n then_o