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order_n to_o the_o future_a government_n and_o settlement_n of_o the_o nation_n present_v to_o the_o commons_o by_o the_o army_n jan._n 20._o 1649._o that_o have_v lie_v so_o long_o under_o the_o ash_n of_o forgetfulness_n never_o so_o much_o as_o call_v for_o by_o the_o author_n of_o it_o but_o these_o thing_n wave_v or_o not_o consider_v in_o that_o present_a juncture_n of_o providence_n the_o gentleman_n make_v for_o westminster_n to_o declare_v themselves_o the_o parliament_n of_o england_n and_o what_o need_v that_o have_v they_o not_o be_v jealous_a of_o a_o innovation_n for_o the_o kingdom_n have_v have_v other_o mean_n then_o these_o to_o know_v their_o great_a counsel_n by_o when_o they_o have_v be_v they_o they_o need_v not_o declaration_n to_o inform_v they_o of_o that_o thither_o i_o say_v they_o come_v and_o there_o they_o sit_v with_o better_a heart_n to_o act_v by_o than_o foundation_n to_o act_v upon_o until_o they_o most_o strange_o and_o unexpected_o divide_v 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and_o against_o the_o government_n the_o 〈◊〉_d be_v extant_a in_o print_n to_o be_v read_v of_o all_o the_o protector_n reject_v the_o petition_n and_o deny_v the_o prayer_n thereof_o the_o petitioner_n plead_v that_o the_o instrument_n give_v liberty_n whereupon_o the_o protector_n fall_v to_o his_o gloss_n and_o interpretation_n thereof_o and_o say_v that_o the_o government_n give_v liberty_n to_o all_o that_o profess_v faith_n in_o god_n through_o jesus_n christ_n that_o be_v that_o believe_v as_o the_o generality_n of_o protestant_n believe_v which_o be_v as_o much_o as_o if_o the_o government_n have_v say_v just_o nothing_o and_o moreover_o he_o most_o affectionate_o inveigh_v against_o man_n of_o such_o opinion_n as_o this_o man_n the_o prisoner_n be_v report_v to_o be_v together_o with_o a_o assertion_n of_o the_o magistrate_n duty_n that_o he_o must_v not_o tolerate_v such_o as_o speak_v against_o the_o god_n of_o the_o
answer_n of_o the_o question_n then_o first_o that_o those_o article_n concern_v religion_n mean_v a_o liberty_n to_o all_o dissenter_n as_o before_o be_v clear_a and_o very_o plain_a if_o it_o be_v compare_v with_o the_o mind_n of_o that_o draught_n of_o agreement_n out_o of_o which_o it_o seem_v to_o be_v take_v i_o say_v it_o seem_v to_o be_v takenby_o the_o identity_n of_o voice_n they_o both_o speak_v only_o the_o instrument_n omit_v some_o few_o passage_n which_o be_v mention_v in_o the_o agreement_n now_o the_o agreement_n endeavour_v manifest_o to_o take_v all_o power_n compulsive_a out_o of_o the_o magistrate_n hand_n yea_o out_o of_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o parliament_n itself_o as_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o public_a settlement_n and_o the_o nation_n peace_n and_o it_o be_v to_o be_v note_v that_o therein_o they_o do_v but_o declare_v the_o indibutable_a right_n of_o the_o people_n ground_v on_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n and_o right_a reason_n for_o this_o kind_n of_o freedom_n of_o which_o we_o now_o speak_v be_v a_o little_o elder_a than_o our_o new_a government_n but_o second_o the_o very_a repetition_n of_o the_o article_n about_o liberty_n be_v enough_o to_o answer_v the_o question_n to_o any_o unprejudiced_a man_n in_o the_o world_n the_o plainness_n whereof_o will_v be_v a_o witness_n against_o all_o false_a glossary_n read_v art_n the_o 36_o &_o 37._o that_o to_o the_o public_a profession_n what_o be_v that_o the_o christian_a religion_n say_v the_o 35._o article_n hold_v forth_o none_o shall_v be_v compel_v by_o any_o external_a force_n whatsoever_o to_o be_v of_o the_o christian_a religion_n because_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v able_a to_o gain_v through_o the_o power_n of_o jesus_n disciple_n to_o its_o self_n without_o any_o such_o poor_a and_o beggarly_a argument_n as_o the_o sword_n of_o man_n be_v compare_v with_o the_o sword_n of_o the_o spirit_n the_o word_n of_o god_n but_o that_o endeavour_n be_v use_v to_o win_v they_o those_o that_o be_v not_o of_o the_o christian_a religion_n public_o hold_v forth_o by_o sound_a doctrine_n and_o the_o example_n of_o a_o good_a conversation_n from_o from_o which_o late_a clause_n it_o appear_v that_o in_o order_n to_o the_o find_v out_o of_o error_n and_o heresy_n and_o its_o rational_a confutation_n there_o must_v be_v a_o free_a way_n open_a for_o the_o dissenter_n from_o the_o approve_a religion_n to_o profess_v &_o publish_v their_o opinion_n which_o be_v publish_v shall_v contract_v no_o other_o evil_n to_o the_o publisher_n than_o a_o advantage_n thereby_o to_o be_v take_v for_o their_o better_a instruction_n not_o for_o their_o destruction_n imprisonment_n banishment_n or_o what_o censure_v else_o the_o civil_a power_n please_v to_o impose_v for_o this_o article_n provide_v that_o such_o erroneous_a yea_o infidel_n so_o far_o it_o go_v shall_v be_v deal_v withal_o only_o by_o doctrine_n and_o good_a example_n i_o do_v very_o believe_v that_o this_o sense_n be_v not_o forcâ—t_o but_o that_o every_o ingenuous_a man_n will_v see_v as_o much_o in_o the_o text._n yet_o because_o the_o civil_a peace_n and_o common_a safety_n and_o liberty_n of_o the_o good_a people_n of_o england_n have_v be_v disturb_v and_o take_v from_o they_o by_o a_o sect_n and_o interest_n of_o man_n for_o such_o a_o transition_n i_o conceive_v there_o be_v between_o this_o 36._o and_o the_o follow_a article_n then_o therefore_o the_o 37._o article_n do_v limit_v and_o therein_o expound_v the_o former_a thus_o that_o such_o as_o profess_v faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n â—hrist_n though_o differ_v in_o judgement_n from_o the_o doctrine_n note_v that_o still_o worship_n or_o discipline_n public_o hold_v forth_o shall_v not_o be_v restrain_v from_o but_o shall_v be_v protect_v in_o the_o profession_n of_o their_o faith_n and_o exercise_v of_o their_o religion_n so_o as_o they_o abuse_v not_o this_o liberty_n to_o the_o civil_a injury_n of_o other_o observe_v the_o word_n civil_a only_o the_o civil_a injury_n of_o other_o be_v thereby_o provide_v against_o and_o to_o the_o actual_a disturbance_n of_o the_o public_a peace_n upon_o their_o part_n provide_v that_o this_o liberty_n be_v not_o extend_v to_o popery_n or_o prelacy_n nor_o to_o such_o as_o under_o the_o profession_n of_o christ_n hold_v forth_o and_o practice_v licentiousness_n the_o 38._o article_n appeal_v all_o law_n statute_n and_o ordinance_n etc._n etc._n to_o the_o contrary_a of_o this_o liberty_n suppose_v now_o for_o instance_n that_o i_o maintain_v and_o profess_v that_o there_o be_v no_o resurrection_n of_o the_o dead_a which_o doctrine_n my_o soul_n abhor_v a_o position_n which_o i_o hope_v will_v be_v contrary_a to_o the_o doctrine_n hold_v forth_o public_o yet_o i_o say_v suppose_v i_o do_v profess_v that_o thing_n i_o conceive_v and_o that_o from_o apparent_a ground_n in_o these_o article_n that_o i_o be_o not_o to_o be_v compel_v to_o be_v of_o another_o mind_n or_o else_o to_o die_v or_o be_v abridge_v of_o my_o liberty_n by_o the_o hand_n of_o man_n but_o to_o be_v preserve_v and_o protect_v unto_o the_o reformation_n of_o my_o mind_n and_o the_o confutation_n of_o my_o error_n by_o sound_a doctrine_n which_o by_o this_o law_n ought_v to_o be_v notwithstanding_o that_o that_o ordinance_n may_v 2.1648_o express_o say_v that_o if_o any_o one_o shall_v maintain_v and_o publish_v that_o the_o body_n of_o man_n shall_v not_o rise_v again_o after_o they_o be_v dead_a it_o shall_v be_v adjudge_v felony_n and_o why_o judge_v i_o that_o my_o protection_n lie_v in_o this_o government_n but_o because_o all_o ordinance_n make_v contrary_a to_o the_o liberty_n give_v be_v hereby_o repeal_v and_o make_v void_a and_o this_o among_o the_o rest_n as_o be_v one_o of_o those_o all_o again_o here_o be_v a_o exception_n of_o or_o provision_n make_v against_o popery_n and_o prelacy_n and_o professor_n of_o licentiousness_n which_o provision_n i_o humble_o conceive_v be_v make_v because_o if_o it_o have_v not_o popery_n and_o prelacy_n may_v be_v adjudge_v to_o drink_v their_o portion_n of_o this_o declare_a liberty_n which_o that_o it_o may_v not_o do_v this_o exception_n seem_v in_o reason_n to_o be_v put_v in_o nay_o and_o i_o believe_v thus_o far_o we_o may_v go_v too_o as_o to_o say_v that_o all_o the_o doctrine_n and_o opinion_n that_o papist_n and_o prelate_n hold_v be_v not_o by_o this_o except_v and_o provide_v against_o for_o in_o many_o thing_n the_o present_a public_a profession_n and_o the_o aforesaid_a interest_n do_v kiss_v each_o other_o in_o a_o friendly_a compliance_n but_o such_o opinion_n of_o they_o be_v hereby_o exclude_v that_o do_v give_v they_o the_o denomination_n of_o papist_n and_o prelate_n respective_o now_o than_o its_o clear_a see_v that_o only_o be_v except_v which_o otherwise_o be_v comprehend_v under_o the_o general_a term_n that_o no_o man_n profess_v faith_n in_o god_n by_o jesus_n christ_n shall_v be_v restrain_v in_o the_o profession_n of_o his_o faith_n however_o differ_v except_o they_o profess_v popery_n or_o prelacy_n or_o licentiousness_n so_o that_o as_o to_o the_o case_n in_o hand_n by_o which_o as_o i_o have_v say_v the_o government_n be_v try_v mr._n biddle_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v restrain_v from_o his_o profession_n that_o jesus_n christ_n be_v not_o the_o most_o high_a god_n but_o to_o be_v protect_v therein_o in_o order_n to_o the_o confutation_n of_o his_o heresy_n by_o sound_a doctrine_n and_o argument_n which_o be_v able_a to_o pierce_v deep_o by_o a_o thousand_o degree_n into_o the_o heart_n of_o error_n and_o the_o devil_n than_o the_o point_n of_o the_o magistrate_n sword_n can_v though_o drive_v by_o all_o the_o strength_n in_o the_o world_n unite_v into_o one_o arm_n neither_o be_o i_o singular_a in_o this_o interpretation_n i_o believe_v and_o hope_n i_o speak_v the_o sense_n of_o all_o moderate_a and_o serious_a christian_n in_o england_n upon_o this_o point_n of_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n i_o be_o sure_a i_o have_v the_o attestation_n or_o rather_o the_o opinion_n of_o many_o hundred_o honest_a and_o profess_v christian_n in_o the_o nation_n concur_v with_o i_o in_o the_o same_o judgement_n as_o it_o do_v most_o evident_o appear_v by_o that_o petition-signed_n by_o they_o occasion_v by_o this_o trial_n some_o of_o who_o and_o i_o mention_v it_o to_o their_o honour_n have_v have_v the_o happiness_n to_o keep_v constant_a and_o close_a to_o their_o principle_n therein_o while_o other_o have_v play_v fast_o and_o loose_a and_o it_o be_v to_o be_v fear_v have_v make_v shipwreck_n of_o faith_n and_o a_o good_a conscience_n endeavour_v to_o satisfy_v their_o own_o lust_n in_o serve_v other_o man_n will_n and_o the_o humour_n of_o the_o time_n thus_o much_o for_o the_o find_v out_o of_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o government_n and_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o supreme_a administrator_n thereof_o as_o to_o
freedom_n in_o religion_n both_o before_o and_o since_o the_o lift_n up_o of_o the_o hand_n to_o heaven_n for_o a_o solemn_a and_o religious_a execution_n thereof_o notwithstanding_o the_o clearness_n of_o the_o case_n of_o liberty_n which_o be_v as_o manifest_a as_o the_o sun_n at_o noonday_n the_o bloody_a work_n of_o persecution_n be_v countenance_v and_o foment_v by_o court-interpretation_n put_v upon_o the_o aforesaid_a branch_n of_o the_o government_n and_o to_o make_v it_o pass_v the_o better_a it_o be_v say_v that_o such_o a_o latitude_n be_v never_o in_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o contriver_n of_o that_o charter_n and_o that_o they_o have_v rather_o be_v set_v quick_a in_o a_o pit_n and_o to_o have_v stone_n and_o dirt_n cast_v upon_o they_o to_o damn_v they_o up_o then_o to_o tolerate_v man_n of_o such_o opinion_n by_o mean_n of_o which_o gloss_n and_o asseveration_n the_o presenter_n of_o that_o petition_n for_o a_o further_o declare_v of_o that_o ordinance_n null_n and_o void_a etc._n etc._n be_v put_v out_o of_o all_o hope_n of_o obtain_v their_o desire_n though_o never_o so_o honest_a and_o the_o prisoner_n leave_v to_o prepare_v himself_o for_o the_o next_o session_n in_o london_n unto_o which_o he_o have_v be_v refer_v but_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n come_v a_o party_n of_o horse_n to_o newgate_n surprise_v the_o prisoner_n and_o carry_v he_o away_o who_o at_o length_n be_v send_v into_o the_o island_n of_o silly_a to_o be_v there_o keep_v a_o close_a prisoner_n whereby_o the_o due_a proceed_n and_o course_n of_o the_o law_n be_v stop_v which_o be_v or_o aught_o to_o be_v the_o safeguard_n and_o the_o fortress_n of_o every_o honest_a 29._o decl_n of_o the_o long_a pail_n ech._n 17._o 1647._o pag._n 17.21_o â—um_fw-la multis_fw-la alis_fw-la it_o be_v to_o be_v argue_v from_o their_o denial_n of_o the_o neg_fw-mi voice_n to_o the_o k._n k._n char._n case_n by_o cook_n see_v sir_n edward_n cook_n 2._o part_n of_o institutes_n pag._n 45._o cap._n 29._o innocent_a freeborn_a english_a man_n these_o strange_a and_o unexpected_a proceed_n have_v be_v most_o bitter_o inveigh_v against_o and_o most_o earnest_o oppose_v in_o the_o late_a king_n which_o be_v make_v a_o great_a part_n of_o those_o heinous_a evil_n for_o which_o he_o lose_v his_o life_n and_o be_v declare_v to_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o england_n and_o the_o liberty_n of_o the_o subject_a and_o although_o there_o may_v not_o be_v pretence_n want_v to_o make_v it_o pass_v the_o better_a in_o the_o observation_n of_o man_n yet_o have_v it_o be_v conceive_v illegal_a under_o what_o pretence_n soever_o all_o man_n know_v that_o know_v any_o thing_n this_o way_n that_o it_o be_v one_o branch_n of_o the_o great_a charter_n of_o england_n liberty_n concern_v the_o king_n that_o he_o promise_v nulli_fw-la vendimus_fw-la nulli_fw-la negabimus_fw-la aut_fw-la differemus_fw-la justitiam_fw-la vel_fw-la rectum_fw-la we_o will_v not_o sell_v nor_o deny_v nor_o delay_v justice_n or_o right_n to_o no_o man_n no_o man_n shall_v be_v take_v imprison_v or_o disseise_v or_o outlaw_o or_o exile_v or_o by_o any_o mean_v destroy_v but_o by_o the_o legal_a judgement_n of_o his_o peer_n or_o equal_v or_o by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o sir_n ed_n cook_n in_o his_o exposition_n of_o this_o chapter_n say_v it_o be_v the_o worst_a oppression_n that_o be_v do_v by_o colour_n of_o justice_n or_o right_o or_o under_o pretext_n of_o do_v good_a it_o be_v enough_o bare_o to_o read_v these_o word_n of_o that_o charter_n the_o commentary_n be_v worthy_a to_o be_v in_o the_o heart_n of_o every_o english_a man_n mr._n saaler_n commend_v and_o close_v with_o polydore_n virgil_n in_o his_o relation_n of_o the_o business_n of_o the_o lord_n chancellor_n in_o king_n richard_n time_n 153._o right_n of_o the_o kingdom_n pag._n 153._o who_o on_o pretence_n of_o the_o king_n warrant_v exceed_o polld_v the_o people_n who_o proud_a injustice_n be_v bring_v down_o by_o parliament_n and_o to_o excuse_v himself_o the_o better_a he_o plead_v the_o king_n command_n whereat_o the_o historian_n as_o sadler_n bring_v he_o in_o puff_v and_o say_v quasâ—_n fas_fw-la esse_fw-la jus_o omne_fw-la prencipis_fw-la jussu_fw-la rescindere_fw-la as_o if_o the_o king_n command_v may_v disannul_v the_o law_n 183._o 1._o part_v cook_n deel_n pag._n 183._o the_o lord_n and_o commons_o in_o that_o long_a parliament_n in_o the_o day_n wherein_o law_n and_o justice_n be_v strong_o assert_v by_o they_o against_o the_o king_n in_o defence_n of_o who_o therein_o the_o army_n engage_v against_o the_o royal_a party_n declare_v and_o publish_v to_o the_o world_n that_o it_o be_v against_o the_o law_n and_o liberty_n of_o the_o kingdom_n that_o any_o of_o the_o subject_n thereof_o shall_v be_v commit_v or_o compel_v by_o the_o king_n to_o attend_v he_o at_o his_o pleasure_n but_o such_o as_o be_v bind_v thereto_o by_o special_a service_n and_o if_o any_o messenger_n or_o officer_n shall_v by_o colour_n of_o any_o command_n from_o his_o majesty_n or_o warrant_v under_o his_o majesty_n hand_n arrest_z take_v or_o carry_v away_o any_o of_o his_o majesty_n subject_n to_o any_o place_n whatsoever_o contrary_a to_o their_o will_n that_o it_o be_v both_o against_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o liberty_n of_o the_o subject_a and_o it_o be_v to_o the_o disturbance_n of_o the_o public_a peace_n of_o the_o kingdom_n and_o any_o of_o his_o majesty_n subject_n so_o arrest_v may_v lawful_o resuse_v to_o obey_v such_o arrest_n and_o command_v can_v any_o thing_n be_v speak_v more_o to_o the_o purpose_n or_o be_v not_o this_o the_o language_n of_o all_o rational_a man_n that_o have_v hear_v of_o law_n or_o liberty_n i_o confess_v i_o be_o fall_v into_o a_o road_n both_o arduous_a and_o difficult_a i_o shall_v deliver_v myself_o out_o of_o it_o by_o a_o bare_a quotation_n from_o mr._n frynne_n who_o once_o feel_v the_o sharp_a edge_n of_o the_o prelate_n cruel_a and_o savage_a tyranny_n his_o case_n be_v plain_a enough_o and_o plead_v by_o himself_o in_o law_n against_o his_o star-chamber-judge_n to_o a_o committee_n of_o that_o long_a parliament_n 213._o new_a discovery_n of_o the_o prelate_n tyranny_n pag._n 210_o 211_o 212_o 213._o appoint_v almost_o for_o that_o purpose_n yet_o because_o i_o will_v not_o put_v the_o reader_n to_o a_o double_a charge_n in_o purchase_n i_o refer_v he_o to_o those_o authority_n which_o he_o there_o bring_v in_o and_o apply_v to_o his_o purpose_n not_o unsuitable_a to_o we_o but_o it_o be_v observable_a from_o all_o first_o that_o the_o judge_n much_o less_o a_o party_n of_o soldier_n be_v not_o to_o stay_v any_o process_n or_o judgement_n no_o not_o by_o the_o king_n commandment_n second_o that_o it_o be_v a_o article_n of_o a_o very_a capital_a concernment_n and_o heinous_a nature_n against_o the_o cardinal_n to_o grant_v forth_o injunctious_a to_o stop_v the_o common-law_n it_o be_v against_o the_o liberty_n of_o the_o subject_a whereof_o see_v more_o in_o the_o place_n aforesaid_a 29._o magna_fw-la charâ—_n pag._n 29._o i_o shall_v not_o undertake_v to_o accommodate_v these_o passage_n to_o any_o present_a it_o be_v a_o work_n of_o a_o tender_a a_o touchy_a nature_n only_o i_o shall_v conclude_v they_o in_o the_o say_n of_o sir_n benjamin_n ridyard_n in_o a_o speech_n of_o he_o in_o parliament_n let_v the_o matter_n bolt_n out_o the_o man_n their_o action_n will_n discover_v they_o thus_o much_o of_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o government_n and_o the_o executor_n thereof_o concern_v liberty_n of_o conscience_n and_o their_o proceed_n therein_o it_o be_v easy_a now_o to_o find_v out_o upon_o what_o foot_n of_o account_v the_o administration_n of_o freedom_n in_o religion_n stand_v the_o instrument_n of_o government_n promise_n and_o provide_v for_o a_o general_a liberty_n except_o what_o it_o except_v yet_o there_o be_v this_o ordinance_n against_o blasphemy_n and_o heresy_n endeavour_v to_o be_v keep_v alive_a and_o support_v to_o be_v a_o check_n to_o the_o government_n this_o ordinace_n have_v such_o a_o vast_a and_o comprehensive_a reach_n that_o it_o be_v able_a to_o draw_v in_o the_o great_a and_o most_o considerable_a part_n of_o christian_n in_o england_n into_o its_o clutch_n and_o to_o pierce_v into_o the_o heart_n of_o their_o life_n and_o liberty_n for_o there_o be_v none_o of_o the_o independent_a or_o baptise_a way_n but_o more_o or_o less_o do_v fall_v into_o its_o verge_n these_o because_o they_o have_v be_v and_o that_o they_o may_v still_o be_v serviceable_a for_o the_o carry_v on_o of_o state-design_n shall_v have_v a_o sanctuary_n or_o city_n of_o refuge_n in_o the_o government_n whensoever_o that_o pursue_a ordinance_n shall_v break_v out_o after_o they_o for_o the_o protector_n say_v they_o be_v and_o shall_v be_v tolerate_v although_o the_o anabaptist_n be_v once_o