Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
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A91080
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A proposall humbly offered, for the farming of liberty of conscience
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Butler, Samuel, 1612-1680.
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1663
(1663)
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Wing P3705; ESTC R26476
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6,999
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12
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A PROPOSALL Humbly Offered FOR THE FARMING OF Liberty of Conscience Printed in the Year 1663. A PROPOSALL HUMBLY OFFERED For the Farming of Liberty of Conscience SInce nothing can be dearer unto poor Christians then Liberty for the Free Exercise of their Iudgments and Conscience which hath kindled that Fire in the Bowels of the three Kingdoms which all the pretious Blood that hath been shed during these late Troubles hath not been able totally to extinguish And since many of us whose Names are affixed were so profitably Instrumental in these late Combustions as appears all along in our Sermons before the Honorable House of Parliament in the Years 1642 43 44 45 46. in exciting the good People of this Nation to seek and maintain their Christian Liberty against all Prelatical and Antichristian Imposition whatsoever And considering that the little Finger of Apostacie from our first Love would be a greater Burden upon our Tender Consciences then the Loyns of Episcopacy we being more bound in Honour then Conscience cannot totally desist Neither need any man fear or so much as suspect lest any inconvenience or Alteration should happen in Religion by the great diversity of Opinions Tongues and Languages tolerated amongst us unless in the great Babel of Episcopacy that may possibly be pull'd down and destroyed by this our notable Confusion For if the Gospel was wonderfully disseminated and spread abroad by every mans speaking in his own Language and the very Enemies thereof astonished and miraculously wrought into a belief of it how is it likely to be now obstructed in the free exercise of our Spiritual Gifts with these our cloven and divided Tongues And since many Worthy persons from whom we might little expect it but far lesse deserve it out of their Goodnesse and Clemency are pleased to incline to some Libertie did not some persons Aliens and Strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel take up a reproach against us as persons reprobated into an unpossibility of submission to Principles of Concord Peace and Order in Church or State never being able hitherto to come to any Consistency amongst our selves the Ark of God having for twenty years together been exposed to High-wayes Streets and worse places for want of an agreement amongst our own Brethren where to rest it or how to entertain it If this be our Case and could we be sure of so much favour as Saul once desired of Samuel That the Bishops would but honour us before the People we would in a private Christian way lay our hands upon our hearts and acknowledg the hand of God and the Iustice thereof in turning us out of his Vineyard as wicked and unprofitable servants and to suffer the iniquity of our heels to overtake us Crying out with Reverend Mr. Calamy The Ark of God is justly departed from us But being not yet thus assured do hope the people will yet believe these to be only Bears Skins lappt about us by Episcopal hands And therefore to the end that a Consistencie and Onenesse of Iudgment of the whole separating Brethren and their Moderation may be known unto all men and that the world may know there is a spirit of Rule and Government resting in us It is humbly Proposed That the sole power of Granting Licenses and Indulgences for Liberty of Conscience within the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Barwick may be Vested in the Persons under-named for the Terme of Seven Years under the Farm Rent of An hundred thousand Pound per annum to Commence from the 25th day of March next under such Rates and Qualifications as are hereafter specified The Names of the Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience proposed on yesterday being Munday March 2. 1662. being the day of a Private Fast kept by Mr. Calamy Mr. Baxter and others at Mr. Beal's house near my Lord of Ely's Chappel in Holborn Mr. Edmond Calamy Mr. Tilham late of Colchester Mr. Philip Nye Mr. Feake Mr. Stanley Gower of Dorchester George Fox Executor of the last Will and Testament of James Nailor deceased Doctor Lazarus Seaman Mr. Dell late of Cambridge Doctor Owen Mr. Bryan late of Coventry Mr. Matthew Mead Mr. John Coppin Doctor Manton Mr. Kiffen Mr. William Jenkins Mr. Fisher late of Kent Doctor Thomas Goodwin Mr. Hammond late of Newcastle Mr. Peter Sterry Mr. Bridges late of Yarmouth Mr. Joseph Carroll Mr. Tombes late of Lemster Mr. Leigh late of Lumbard street The Executor of Mr. Venner lately Executed Mr. Thomas Case Mr. Reynor late of Lincoln Mr. Raph Venning Mr. Rogers Mr. Benn late of Dorchester Mr. George Griffith late of Charter-house The Executor of Hugh Peters lately Executed Mr. George Newton late of Taunton Mr. Dan Dyke late of Hertford-shire Mr. Mayo late of Kingston Mr. Joshua Sprigg Mr. Henry Jessey Mr. Newcomen of Dedham in Essex Doctor Tuckney of Cambridge Doctor Cornelius Burges Mr Zachary Crofton Doctor Holmes Mr. John Cann Mr. Thomas Brooks That the Persons aforesaid may be constituted Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick and may be impowred to set up one Publique Office within the City of London and to nominate and elect a convenient number of Registers Clerk and other Officers And for the more certainty of all Certificates to be granted as is hereafter appointed The said Grand Commissioners and Farmers may form a common Seal to be known and called by the name of The Publique Seal of the Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience engraven An Ass without Ears Braying with this Motto incircled Star pro ratione libertas And the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers or any 24 of them in the said Office assembled may from time to time compound and agree for Liberty of Conscience with any person or persons under such Rates and Qualifications as are hereafter specified That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers or any 24 of them may constitute and appoint under the Publique Seal of the Office Sub-Commissioners and other Officers for every Countie within the said Kingdom not exceeding the number of 12. for each County whereof 7 to be a Quorum who may compound and agree for Liberty of Conscience with any person or persons select Congregations Cities Towns Corporate Parishes Hamlets and Villages by the great or otherwise within their respective Countries not exceeding the Rates hereafter mentioned Rates to be observed in all Compositions for Liberty of CONSCIENCE Â Per Annum A Presbyterian Minister 5 0 0 A Ruling Elder 4 0 0 A Deacon 3 0 0 A Hearer Male or Female in Fellowship to all Ordinances 2 0 0 A Common Hearer only 1 0 0 An Independant Pastor 5 0 0 A Teaching Elder 4 0 0 A Helper in Government 3 0 0 A Deacon 3 0 0 A Hearer male or female in Fellowship to all Ordinances 2 0 0 A common Hearer only 1 0 0 A Baptist admitted to the Administration
of all Ordinances 5 0 0 A Preaching assistant 4 0 0 An Elder in Office 3 0 0 A Deacon 2 0 0 A Hearer in Fellowship male or female to all Ordinances 2 0 0 A common Hearer only 1 0 0 A Fifth Monarcher admitted to hold forth 5 0 0 An Elder under the same Administration 3 0 0 A Deacon under the same Administration 3 0 0 A Hearer male or female in Fellowship according to the value of his or her Estate 2 s. per l. per annum    A common hearer male or Female according to the value of his or her Estate 12 d. per l. per annum    A speaking male Quaker 4 0 0 A speaking female Quaker 3 0 0 A common Quaker male or female 2 0 0 A Confessor 6 0 0 A Seminary or Mass-Priest at large 5 0 0 A private Mass-Priest 4 0 0 A Roman Catholick in any other order 3 0 0 A Roman Catholick not in order male or Female 1 0 0 An Officer under any Administration not mentioned in the rates aforesaid being a Native of England such only excepted as stand Conformable to the Church of England 5 0 0 A common person under any Administration not mentioned in the rates aforesaid being a Native of England such only excepted as stand conformable to the Church of England 2 0 0 An Officer under any Administration whatsoever not a Native of England except conformable to the Church of England 10 0 0 A private person under any Administration whatsoever not a Native of England except conformable to the Church of England 5 0 0 Rates to be observed in compounding for Liberty of Conscience in the particulars following viz. For Liberty to assert the Popes Supremacy 10 0 0 For Liberty to write speak or Preach against the Government as they shall be inwardly moved 5 0 0 For liberty to keep on their Hats before Magistrates or in Courts of Judicature 2 0 0 For Liberty to rail publickly against the Bishops and Common Prayer 1 0 0 For Liberty to refuse all manner of Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy or in Cases Civil or Criminal 2 0 0 For liberty to deny Tythes and other Church Duties 1 0 0 For liberty to expound the Revelations and the Book of Daniel 1 0 0 For Liberty to disturb any Congregation after Sermon 0 10 0 For Liberty to assert the Solemn League and Covenant 1 5 0 For Liberty to instruct youth in the short Catechism set forth by the Assembly of Divines 0 10 0 That any person or persons gifted for any the Particulars abovesaid may have liberty therein either as an Itinerate in private or Publique at the Rates abovesaid That no person or persons be admitted to compound for Liberty of Conscience until he or they have first taken and subscribed the Solemn Protestation following before the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers or their Sub-Commissioners respectively I A. B. do here solemnly protest That I judg my self still bound by the Solemn League and Covenant by the Engagement by private Church-Covenant or by any other Oath which I have taken ever since the year 1641. and that so far as with safety to my person and Estate I may I will endeavour the utter extirpation of Episcopacy and to the utmost of my power will abet and promote all Schism faction and discord both in Church and State according to the best form and manner prescribed and laid open in the Sermons of many of the Grand-Commissioners and Farmers before the Parliament appointed to be Printed and now called the Homilies of the Separated Churches And that I will never by what Conviction or Authority soever whether legall or Episcopall ever consent to the Establisht Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England And I do likewise believe That Liberty of Conscience was a Mysterious yet profitable talent committed to the Churches and that it may be lawfully Farmed out for advantage and improvement That no person within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Barwick may from and after the 25 day of March next use or exercise any manner of Liberty of Conscience except persons standing conformable to the Church of England untill such person or persons shall first take the Solemn Protestation and shall compound with the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers for Liberty of Conscience nor shall he be admitted or permitted to be a Speaker or Hearer in any Meeting or Assemblies whatsoever That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience may have power to constitute under the Publique Seal of the said Office a convenient number of Spiritual Gagers who may have and exercise all such Powers Priviledges Authorities as the Gagers for Excize of Beer and Ale have or ought to have and enjoy and may at any time in case of Suspition enter into any house or place publike or private to gage and try the Spirits and Affections of any person or persons and by Praying Preaching or other good Exhortation disswade from Episcopacie and the Common-Prayer the better to fit and prepare them to compound for Liberty of Conscience That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience may have power to fine any person or persons not exceeding the sum of 20 l. for every offence who shall after Composition for Liberty of Conscience and subscribing the Solemn Protestation be present in any Church or Chappel within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick in the time of any part of Divine Service unless at the Funeral of his Father or some other like occasion or if being present at any such occasion he shall either respond be uncovered or carry himself reverently in the time of Divine Service aforesaid That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience or any 24 of them assembled at the Office aforesaid may have and exercise a Iurisdiction of Appeal in all matters relating to Liberty of Conscience within the said Kingdom of England and shall have a conclusive power in all matters brought before them by way of Appeal as aforesaid That for the better management of all such matters as shall be brought judicially before the said Grand Commissioners Farmers of Liberty of Conscience by way of Appeal the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers shall have power to constitute and appoint Mr. Oliver St. Johns and such others as they judge fit for their said Service to be of Standing-Councel with the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers And the said Mr. Oliver St. Johns being so constituted and appointed under the Publick Seal of the said Office shall and may be exempted and discharged from being in any Publike Office or place of Trust or Profit for the said term of 7 years any thing to the contrary notwithstanding That if any person or persons shall happen to be proceeded against in any of the Ecclesiastical Courts of the Bishops of this Kingdome for Contumacy for