into Wolves or Wild Beasts and use fleshly Weapons then will you exclude your selves out of his calling and forsake his Banner and then will he not be your Captain Often doth Chrisostomus shew how that the true Christians may not put any Heretick to Death nor with Violence Force him to the Faith manifesting how it is against the Scripture Reason and Equity that People should put men to Death because of their Opinion or Ignorance who otherwise are of a good Life and Conversation Aug. Diligite homines interficite Errores sine sevitia pro veritate certate Where hast thou ever read in thy dayes said Menno in the Writings of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cryed out to the Magistrates for their Power against them that would not hear their Doctrin nor obey their Words I know certainly said he that where the Magistrate shall banish with the Sword there is not the right Knowledge Spiritual Word nor Church of Christ 't is Invocare brachium seculare It is not Christian-like but Tyrannical said D. Philipsen to Banish and Persecute People about Faith and Religion and they that so do are certainly of the Pharisaical Generation to whom Stephen said you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears you do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 52. When a King or a Prince giveth forth a Law by virtue of which Murderers are to be put to Death then all the People that own and obey this Law will do their best in helping to put them Death whom they know assuredly to be Murderers even so said a certain Writer when the Bishops Presbyters or any other writeth or publisheth that People ought to put Hereticks to Death then must it needs follow said he that the Papists shall do their best to put the Protestants to Death and the Protestants the Papists the Episcopal men the Presbyterians and the Presbyterians the Episcopal men for every Sect supposeth themselves to be the right Believers and the rest they esteem to be Hereticks and then should Mannasseh with Ephraim and Ephraim with Mannasseh rise up against the Jews yet should not the Wrath of the Lord be appeased Castellius testified how that some of the Divines so called when they medled with Hereticks they judged them all to be Apostates false Prophets and Blasphemers to the end that thereby they might the more vilifie and oppresse those that differed from them which saith he hath been the manner of all Scribes and Pharisees But who can produce a Law out of the holy Scripture that requires Hereticks to be put to Death 't is true said he there are Laws against Blasphemers but what is this to the purpose except it can be proved that Hereticks are Blasphemers for who will believe that all these who at this day are crlled Hereticks are Blasphemers and ungodly Men who are so foolish as to believe the Pope who judgeth the Protestants to be Blasphemers because they differ from him in point of the Sacrament that they therefore are Blasphemers and that the Baptists are Blasphemers because they differ from him in their Baptism Aeontius said It cannot be that a Heretick should reject his Errour when he will except that some reason constrain him thereunto Wherefore then said he do you trouble such a miserable man for to make him Lie and to provoke him more and more to Sin against the Lord surely men cannot deny but that it is an Invention of Satan said he for to Force the Servants of God to deny Christ for fear of Punishment Further said he people must seek to conquer such men not through Threatnings but it must be through the Power of certain Testimonies and living Manifestations CHAP. XI The Popes Counsel and Intreaty The sad Effects of cruel Proclamations How Inconsistant it is with the Life of Christ to Persecute Under what pretence the true Believers have Suffered And how Persecution cannot effect the thing for which it is intended HEresie is a Greek Word and signifieth a Sect or an Opinion and they that did stiff-neckedly cleave unto evil Sects were called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Latines Pertinaces and by us are they called Hereticks Now it is an easie matter to accuse a man of being a Heretick and of retaining Opinions contrary to his Conscience but it is a difficult thing sufficiently to prove and manifest the same for all the Martyrs that have Suffered for the name of Christ have been accused with being Hereticks even as the Innocent Lamb 's of Christ that Suffer now for his Names sake are accused at this day Pope Paul the third counselled and intreated the Emperour Charles and King Ferdinandus to compel the Protestants to forsake their Error Anno 1545. There can be no greater Suffering and Sorrow said a certain wise Man brought upon such as fear the Lord than there may by compelling them through Punishment to do that which is against their Conscience or to leave off such an Exercise as they are perswaded in their Conscience is necessary to their Salvation The History do shew how that in the Low-Countries there were betwixt eighteen and nineteen thousand Men put to Death upon their resisting of the Inquisition being brought into those Parts Moreover the Chronicle testifieth That in the Dayes of Charles the Emperor there were above fifty thousand Men put to Death by Proclamations some Proclamations did forbid upon pain of Death Peoples holding any Fellowship with them that fled or were Banished about Religion or of assisting them with Money or Provision yea one was Hanged saith the Chronicle because he entertained his own Son Merck-tyck pag. 77. Now if any Emperor King Prince or Superiours should through the Counsel of the Divines or Clergy goe the same way that this Emperor Charles went with his Son King Phillip who were Destroyed with their Land and People who may not so truly as certainly Prophesie and warn such Powers who wilfully take such a Course said the Author that they also will bring themselves with their Land Religion and Subjects to Ruine M. Publ. Alienis malis cautior Seneca 21. Some are and have been of that Opinion That there are no People that ought to be more severely Punished than Hereticks Blasphemers and Contemners of Religion But what said Erasmus Is it a greater Transgression to be a Christian than to be a Murtherer of Father or Mother c. But such things shall the Devil raise up against the Gospel and oftentimes they are called Hereticks who do so little contemn Religion that they will die for their Religion and therefore it appears said he that they are no despisers of Religion who are so given up to Suffer for to keep a good Conscience before God Likewise He appears to be free from Blasphemy who will rather die than by imbracing Error will be freed from Death or Persecution such appear to be free from Blaspheming God willingly And as concerning the Life of Christ
THE TESTIMONY OF A Cloud of Witnesses Who in their Generation have testified against that horrible Evil of FORCING of CONSCIENCE and PERSECUTION about Matters of RELIGION Whose Testimony may be seasonable and sutable for the present state of the wise and learned men in England whether of the Magistrates or of the Clergy And may serve as a timely Warning to them all of defiling their hands with that horrible filthy thing which is already in part committed in the Land Composed together and Translated into English by a living Witness against the aforesaid Evil WILLIAM CATON God shall perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem and Canaan shall be his Servant Gen. 9.27 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12.11 Printed in the Year 1662. TO THE READER FRIEND IN these latter Dayes the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath raised up many Witnesses who Faithfully bear their Testimony to the Eternal Truth against the many Evils which superabound in the World but as the Testimony of his Faithful Witnesses hath been heretofore Rejected by the World in like manner is the Testimony of his Servants now contemned and set at nought by the Wise and Learned of this World who now with their Power and Wisdom resist the Almighty as in Ages and Generations past which thing I seriously observing it entered into my Heart to manifest the Testimony of some of the Antients who heretofore have been renowed in their Generations to my Country-men to the end that both the Wise and Simple Noble and Ignoble amonst them might see and perceive how that the Almighty even the Lord of Hosts hath so far opened the Understandings of many as that he hath given them to see the Evil of that horrible Evil viz. of FORCING of CONSCIENCE which noysome and hurtful thing hath been testified against by Emperours and Kings and by other Potentates of the Earth who by experience have found the Evil of it And likewise it hath been witnessed against by many Wise and Eminent Learned Men in their several Generations even as it is now testified against by the Servants and Hand-maids of the Most High which is evidently manifested by this following Treatise It hath been long upon me to produce this to our Native Country and to publish these Testimonies in its own Language that its Inhabitants might understand how other Kingdoms and Countries have been depopulated and spoyled through their Persisting in the aforesaid Evil and that they also might be warned from running head-long in that evil Course unto Perdition and thereby incur Desolation upon the Land and hasten the Lord's Judgements upon its Inhabitants Much I might have added to the further demonstrating of this Evil but being there is so much writ already concerning it and so much testified daily against it and that I was not desirous to make a great Volumn but chused much rather such a compendious Abstract as this Therefore have I only inserted their Testimonies without any Paraphrasing upon them which I leave unto thy just Judgement Sometimes I have instanced the Chronicle or History in which they are to be found more at large and sometime I have not for I believe that very few of them are extant in our English Language and that there is not one among a thousand in England that do know the Chronologies out of which they have been extracted If that thou Courteous Reader do with the Spirit of Meekness peruse this brief Treatise then mayest thou reap of the Fruit of this my Labour of Love the effects of which I shall leave unto the Lord whose Power I know is sufficient to make it effectual W. C. Palatine in Germany the 29th of the first Month called March 1662. The Epistle to the READER IT hath been the fervent labour and travel of my youth to seek for and to follow after the way of Righteousness and Truth and it hath ever been the very temper of my Spirit until this day to affect Iustice and Mercy and the Virtues of the Lord God hath delighted my Soul in what Person and among what People soever as I have seen the same and perfect Liberty and Freedom in all the wayes of God inwardly and outwardly in all the exercise of godliness and the Virtues of the Spirit of Christ I have longed after and according to that Light and Knowledge committed to me these things have I followed that I might attain to the perfection thereof to the fulfilling of my Faith and Patience in the enjoyment of these things when God himself should bring them forth in the World and give his chosen People the possession of the same as the Lot of their Inheritance And for this Cause and the accomplishing of this end I have had my Portion of afflictions among many other and I have suffered somewhat in Body and Spirit in my day if possibly this may be obtained in the end to wit free open publick and perfect Liberty in the exercise of Conscience in Duty and Worship to Godwards in and through the whole World This hath been and is the end of that long travelled Iourney which once obtained is a sufficient reward for all Afflictions and Tribulations and Persecutions suffered and endured in the way and saving my Hope and Faith and Confidence in the Promises of God concerning this thing the heart would faint the Spirit fail and the Soul be weary and nothing could comfort my life Thus it is not onely with me but with many more like minded who are all Travellers Mourners and disconsolate till the Lord appear bringing with him perfect Liberty of Conscience to all his People now Oppressed and Imposed upon with grievous Burdens of Force and Violence concerning Worship and Duty to Godwards under which Soul groans Spirit grieves Life mourns and the Holy Seed is slain in all Nations through the World and the Soul Spirit Life and Holy Seed Cryes unto God day and night and are poured out before him How long Lord how long when shall it once be That Persons Peoples and Nations shall offer Service Obedience and Worship to thee according to thy Teaching and as they are led and perswaded by thy Spirit Free Service and Worship and without force is that which God onely accepts and by which he is glorified 't is the way of true Worship 't is the way of Salvation Duty and Service in the exercise of the free Spirit of the Lord in the hearts of his People in this onely is he delighted and all the exercise of that concern which is by force through Imposition is neither pleasing to him nor saving to the Soul but abomination in his sight as Iniquity which his Soul hates and a vexation of guilt unto the Righteous Soul Hence may it be said wo unto Imposed Worship and Service which is forced by outward Power it grieves and vexes the God of
against them and for which Cause he will smite and wound confound and overturn Kingdomes Powers and Authorities even till he Reign whose Right it is who onely and alone will Rule in the free exercise of Soul Spirit and Conscience through the teachings of his own Spirit And though much Opposition and great Contention have been made against this in the World in which men have striven against their own good and welfare yet there is a day and it hastens to come in Power when Imposition upon Conscience by outward worldly force in Cases Divine will be banished the whole Fabrick of the Creation and exiled into the pit of never-rising obscurity and darkness and then shall the Sons of men be delivered from the Violence of it and from all its miserable and mischievous Consequence Then shall the heritage of the Lord rejoyce in Ioy unspeakable being delivered from the oppression under which she hath long mourned travelled and groaned in deep distresse Then shall Nations delight in amity one with another then shall Neighbours rejoyce in Society one among another and then shall Kings and Rulers love their Subjects and People freely and People shall Obey and serve their Rulers with a willing and chearful heart and mind Hereby the God of Heaven should be Glorified and all People become Blessed Amity Love Unity and Concord and the first Creation order and Decree would be restored between God and his Creatures and also between man and man in holy Covenant And this matter to wit Concerning Liberty of Conscience in the free exercise of Godliness hath been of these late years in great Debate and Contest among men in these Nations and some have been of one Iudgement and others of a contrary about this matter and the Contention hath arisen very high even unto Blood and losse of all and is yet remaining undetermined in the minds and Spirits of many people which ought to be resolved in every heart through conviction by sound Arguments of Truth and Divine reason and men ought then to obey the same according to inward Spiritual Conviction and this Case ought not to be determined by Carnal weapons forcibly Compelling people in the Case by the Impositions of Conquest in a Violent way of outward Power And since that This is a Case dubious whether free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Worship or Imposition about the same is most worthy I therefore upon this necessity calling upon me with my willingness to assist in such a work would add my mite and grain of Knowledge and Wisdome towards the resolving of such a dubious and needful Case And have taken this opportunity and occasion thus to declare my mind and shall leave the effect hereof to the purpose and Providence of the Lord who onely is Wise to work whatsoever he will by whomsoever he pleases for he never yet limited himself to any one Instrument in the bringing forth and accomplishing his purpose however no man is to dispute the Leadings and Commands of God nor yet to measure his obedience to him by either objected or real Consequence in the fruits and effects of his obedience And this is that warrant to wit the leadings of God under the Commission of which the Servants of God do Act in their Obedience and disputes not the Authority nor the Consequence but leaves the Issue of all things to him that Commands The total sum of this matter to wit Liberty of Conscience is very large and requires multitude of Words and many arguments to unfold the Truth of it the vertue of it and the Evil Causes Works and effects of the Contrary but at this time I shall contract the sum into state it in this total head Whether it is not perfect Reason Justice and Equity and that without all Exceptions that every man upon the Earth be permitted in the free exercise of Conscience without any kind of Force put upon him by any man to the contrary to follow that Religion and to live in such Faith and perform such Worship to God as he dares trust his own Soul withal and give account thereof before God in the day of dreadful Judgement My Iudgement is on the affirmative Part in answer to this Question and it is my Iudgement in the Fear and Spirit of the Lord that 't is perfectly reasonable Just and Equal that every man in the World be permitted his Liberty in the free exercise of his Conscience and that without any force imposed upon him to the Contrary to follow that Religion and live in that Faith and perform that Worship to God with which he dares trust his own Soul to the Salvation thereof and the contrary is Unreasonable Unjust and Unequal and this might be amplified in a large manner upon occasion And this is not only my Iudgement alone nor the false Fancy of a single Person but it is the Faith and Judgement of many more and that not of Fools altogether but of the Wise not only of some few men of our Age but of many Ages past whose Principles were for the Toleration of Liberty in the exercise of Conscience in matters Spiritual as in this smal Treatise following more at large appears to which for proof of this Particular and to second the Truth of my Iudgement I do refer the serious and well considerate Reader in which small Piece he may find the Iudgements of divers Persons asserted by their own Sayings concerning the very Case of Liberty of Conscience and what esteem some Kings and Princes and Religious Men have had of the same for this following Piece to which I am now prefacing is no other than a certain sum of brief Collections of the Sayings of Emperors Kings and Potentates of former Ages contracted into this short method for the better Intelligence of all that are inquiring about this occasion and such is mine affection to the present Contraction collected that I wish that all the Rulers and Princes of our Age through the World would seriously read and rightly study the same and improve it to their own advantage in practising the Sayings of their Grave and Wise Progenitors and oh that they would engross this small Piece in their Records and enclose it in their Closets and use the same as Counsel and Instruction to themselves in the Premises the effect of it might prove happy to them if their present Practise would be answerable to the Intimations of the Antients And this small Piece happily ariving the harbour of my hands through the tedious industry of the Collector and through other passages of tempestious Dangers which it lay liable unto I have transported it over a serious view and am affected with it unto my Commendation and approof first of the matter it self and secondly of its Author's pains and Industry in forming of it into this method in which it now appears both of which I cannot but commend and do also herewith recommend to the View Consideration and Instruction of
but with the Sword of the Spirit the Power of God and with Prayer were they to resist the evil Spirit and all its Temptations and with long Suffering learn to overcome them all The Chronicle testifieth How that Theodosius Persecuted no Man neither did he constrain any to hold Fellowship with him but permitted every Man to meet in his own house or at his own Meeting and he being a very meek man did thereby to wit through Meekness sooner bring his Subjects to Obedience than by War neither would he Force the Consciences of his Subjects Relig. Uriih pag. 6. Iohn Taulerius spoke also much in his Sermon Book of the Tribulation Oppression and great Suffering that the Christians were to expect here but not that he should cause any of them to suffer The Burgemeesteren of Amsterdam testified That no man had Power to bind another mans Conscience let him be who he will said they for this Power pertaineth only to God under whose Command and Power the Conscience is Anno 1617. Erasmus said That though they take our Moneys and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God Moreover the Lord said If they Persecute you in one City fly unto another thereby doth he teach saith Eras that persecuted Christians should not expel Weapons with Weapons but rather fly before Weapons for if Peter was reproved because he drew his Sword against the Wicked and Ungodly for his harmless Lord wherefore then should a Christian man for the future revenge Wrong with Wrong when it is done unto him In de Krijgdes urede Fol. 63. Lactantius said We Christians desire not that any man against his Will should serve our God who is the Creator of all things neither are we likewise angry if he be not served for we believe saith he that his Majesty might as well revenge their despisings as he doth the injuries of his Servants And therefore when we suffer such shameful things we keep silent referring vengeance unto the Lord and do not like unto those who would be esteemed Defenders of their Gods who are full of Wrath against those that do not honour them Rel. Uriih pag. 17. We are assured said Cyprianus That they that Persecute us shall not remain long unpunished and the greater Injuries which they have done the more manifest revenge will come upon them though we had no knowledge of the Antient times yet notwithstanding that which of late hath happened might serve for a sufficient Warning to wit that in so short a time saith he so grievious and terrible a revenge is already come upon Persecutors Merula pag. 214. When Cyprianus was threatned to be Banished out of the Land except he would renounce the Christian Religion he replyed to those that threatned him and said He that carrieth Christ shut up in his Heart and Mind can be no Exile or banished Man For the Earth is the Lords and the Fulness thereof Afterwards he was much urged by the Governour to betray his Brethren to which he would in no wise condescend and when the Governour told him that the Emperour had forbidden the Meetings of the Christians that they should not meet upon pain of death then he gave the Governour to understand that he was prepared to die for the Profession of the Truth Moreover said Cyprianus Have we not seen that the Martyrs of Christ did not look upon their Torments with cruel Eyes neither did they threaten Tyrants but was more sorrowful for their Blindness than for their own Suffering Anno 1567. Petrus Viretus said That there was nothing that sooner broke the Violence of Tyranny than the Patience of the Saints neither was there any better means to take away the sharpness of their Swords said he and to quench and extinguish their Fire than through Faith Constancy and Prayer CHAP. XV. Augustinus's Testimony How Ambrosius was threatned How private Meetings could not be prevented by Proclamations c. How it is the Duty of Christians to continue their Meetings And how we are to Obey God more than the Emperor or the King AUgustinus testified That when Emperours were in Error then did they make Laws for to defend Errors against the Truth yet Ambrosius would not obey the Emperor in things that were contrary to God and his Commands wherefore the Emperor threatned that he would cut off his Head then said Ambrosius I will Suffer as a Bishop do thou as becometh an Executioner or Hangman Apoph Fol. 144. The Chronicle testifieth How that in times past private Meetings could never be hindred through rigorous Proclamations strict Orders and Executions nor yet Sects of sinister Opinions but by how much the more they were forbidden by Orders and Persecuted by so much the more they Acted against the Orders Bor. 111.6.91 Moreover it sheweth how the Martyrs in Tribulation were mostly accused because they continued their Meetings contrary to the Command of the King Int Martel lib. 5. pag. 456. This is the Duty of all the Faithful said a certain wise Man That they continue their Meetings together in the name and fear of the Lord though Kings Princes and Magistrates by their Proclamations and Orders command the contrary for after the Apostle through many perils of his Life had Preached the Doctrin of the Gospel in Synagogues Schools and Markets and being resisted by open Violence and forbidden to Preach any more in that Name he notwithstanding after that kept Meetings in private Houses when he Preached Grotius testified How that it was the Opinion of some that they that did cruelly handle such as kept their Meetings not to Gormandize or play the Glutton nor to disturb the publick Peace but as Schools of Vertue were themselves in such a State as ought to be punished Vide Grot. lib. 2. pag. 445. The History sheweth how that heretofore some said as others do now That new things as new Opinions c. are alwayes to be feared especially great Meetings and Assemblies but said the Author Men need not fear that Doctrine which tends to the bringing of People to Piety and Honesty neither need men be afraid of the Meetings of honest peaceable People who seek not to keep themselves private except that they be thereunto constrained concerning whom I may say said he as Augustus said concerning the Meetings of the Jews that they were not to Domineer nor to be excessive in eating and drinking nor yet to disturb the Peace c. Anno 1560. In Scotland it was decreed and concluded That People should in all things obey the Magistrates Religion only excepted Hist. Georg. Fol. 697. Lucernus said He that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience that is an Antichrist Inde Bennse Disp. Fol. 71. Therefore said Erasmus If that at any time Evangelical Godliness require that People must contemn their Commands that must be done with such moderation as that it may not be through any hate against
them but through a godly Zeal Vide Exod. 1.16 17 21. Considering how that the Commands of God are to be esteemed above the Commands of Men Obey your Masters saith he but not against God to whom you are more bound than unto men Daniel kept himself Innocent before God and the King notwithstanding his doing contrary to the King's command concerning the free Exercise of his Religion Dan. 6.22 But say some the Powers will not suffer this new Doctrine I know not but that they might well suffer it where it fundamentally manifesteth it self said Vrbanus Regnis yet though they will not suffer it every true Christian knoweth that he ought to keep to the Lord and his Truth and in such a case he may said he without contempt of Authority let pass that worldly command and of this will the spiritual Law admit For it doth not become the Emperour nor the King to determine any thing against the divine Command nor to do any thing that is against the Rule of the Exangelical Prophets and Apostles Truth and if that they command any Evil then must we give them this answer We must obey God rather than Men Acts 5.29 But in these things which are not against the Command of God we will be subject Yet when the Emperour or King commandeth one thing and God another and that we obey God who hath the Supream Power we desire herein to be excused by the Emperour and King if they threaten Imprisonment for Disobedience he threatneth Hell Vide his Epistle of twofold Righteousness Fol. 6 7. Anno 1532. CHAP. XVI How it doth not become the Magistrate to Force the Conscience nor to be a Iudge in Points of Doctrine and of what dangerous consequence it would be if the Magistrate should proceed against Hereticks according to his own Interpretation of the Law CAstellius testified That in Matters of Religion there was no other Magistrate than Christ alone and they that he not with the Sword but with his Word armeth and sendeth forth The Antient Protestants testified How that the most of the old Fathers affirmed That the Magistrate had nothing to do to meddle with the Conscience to force and compel that to believe seeing that the temporal Sword was put into their Hands to Punish Theeves Murderers and other disturbers of the Peace but as concerning Religion and that which pertaineth unto the Soul the only Spiritual Sword the Word of God must and ought herein to Remedy separating the Zeal and Religion which did defend man from Tumults and disturbing of Governments Neither doth it belong to any man to ordain other Laws for Punishment besides those which God hath appointed and therefore is it so highly forbidden to add or diminish Deut. 4.2 Chap. 12.32 Rev. 22.18 for no Laws but God's bind the Conscience Merck-tyck pag. 245. Moreover it hath been formerly testified That they do very unchristianly who under pretence of Ecclesiastical Discipline introduce a new Authority over the Faith and Consciences of Men Isa. 10.12 Psal. 94.20 21. Acontius testified That it was against the Office of a Magistrate to be a Judge in Points of Doctrine in matters of Religion and in the same to use his Power violently and that in particular he should do contrary to his Office if that he used his Power to please any man as that when he had committed the care of Religion to some particular Person or Persons and that he should be ready to draw out his Sword against those whom the other accused as Hereticks or give the Weapon into their Hand Now how guilty he that thus did would be in the day of the Lord may you judge Alcmerus testified That God alone is the judge of the heart and that he alone should judge of Faith and Unbelief therefore is it not lawful for Princes said he to judge any man in matters of Faith while they are not guilty of any manifest transgression of any known civil Law as Theft Murder c. for they are Judges of the Body and not of the Soul Rel. uriih 2 deel pag. 52. Through what impudency dare you judge them to Death saith Castellius that profess the name of Christ who hath taught you the matters of Religion of which you are most ignorant I believe you will say you do not these things alone from your own Judgement but through the judgement of the Learned who hath taught you who ought to be Punished and put to Death and verily it is so said he for I see that your Learned men do injoyne you not to put any to Death about Religion but according to their Judgement W. Teelingh testified That the Magistrate ought not to rest upon the conclusion of the Church nor thereupon to proceed being that the Church might err and that it was dangerous following De hevige ende huestige Kerckelijcbre luijden i. e. the vehement and hasty Clergy In Eubul 252.254 256 Follies The Lord of Pleffy referred the Judgement of Doctrine and Teachers c. to the Judgement of all Christians and not only to the Judgement of the pollitick Magistrates nor not alone to the Ecclesiastical Clergy neither only to them both no but to all men Vide his Trac of the Church pag. 80 130 147. Experience hath sufficiently demonstrated that it is a very hurtful thing to compel all People to dance after the Magistrates Pipe said a certain Writer for where it hath been so Oh! what hath been the Effect thereof but most commonly an Universal Delusion of the Subjects with a Bloody Persecution of the true Prophets for the greatest multitude of men is never the best as also the greatest number of Emperors and Kings are not very Holy but often have shewn themselves saith he to be very wicked Merck-tyck pag. 307. The Lord hath expresly declared said one That the Magistrate is no fit Judge to judge of Doctrine and that the use of such Jurisdiction is forbidden him For how shall a man know a Heretick but by knowing the Cause whereby a man is made a Heretick And if the Magistrate do so interpret the Law as that he thinketh those Hereticks may be forgiven who have not endeavoured to counsel others and that they are to be put to Death who persevere in teaching others and are resolved so to do shall men then be in safety and their Credit and Welfare preserved certainly no for so often as the Truth shall falsely be scandalized with the name of Heresie through the Orders of the Magistrate so often shall the Servants of the Lord be thereby brought into Suffering for it is not lawful for them to whom God hath manifested his Truth to hide their Talent in the Earth through silence and dissimulation Vide Arg. des Sat. lib. 3. pag. 184. idem pag. 94 95. With what clearer Example can the Magistrates be exhorted not to depend upon any mans Judgement then that concerning the Son of God who was so carelesly given over not only according to the