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A95316 A True state of the case of liberty of conscience in the common-wealth of England. Together with a true narrative of the cause, and manner, of Mr. John Biddle's sufferings. 1655 (1655) Wing T3113; Thomason E848_12; ESTC R202157; ESTC R207322 7,600 15

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A TRUE STATE OF THE CASE OF Liberty of Conscience in the Common-wealth of ENGLAND Together with a true NARRATIVE OF The Cause and Manner of Mr. John Biddle's Sufferings London Printed in the year 1655. A true State of the Case c. THough it is to be confessed as his Highness saith in his first Speech to the last Parliament That Liberty of Conscience and Liberty of Subjects are oftentimes abused for the patronizing of Villanies yet let it be said also as he in the same place That these two are as glorious things as can be contended for and that whosoever abuseth Liberty as in the Epistle to the Reader prefixt to the Speech of the Counsellor to the King of Scots James 5. which his Highness caused to be printed turning it into Licentiousnes shall bear his own shame as he that sins because Grace abounds True Liberty nor Grace are the less so because abused nor the more to be stumbled at And because Liberty of Conscience is pleaded in opposition somtimes to Civil Government and for the shelter of wicked and dissolute persons that yet there may not be a Case and that in such a case it may not be lawful to plead and that such pleadings should not enter into the hearts of all those that have any true affection to Liberty it doth not at all follow And if in the Case here presented to thy view this Liberty be not rightly pleaded as being highly violated we shall utterly despair of ever finding any Certainly we do but delude and deceive men if while we cry out for Liberty of Conscience we only intend Liberty to others to profess that whereof we are at present doubtful and not that which we maturely believe to be absolutely Erronious Provided that the persons so erring either in Doctrine Discipline or Worship do profess Faith in God by Jesus Christ and abuse not the Liberty to the Civil injury of others and to the actual disturbance of the publick peace on their parts nor profess and exercise Popery and Prelacy nor under the profession of Christ hold forth and practise licentionsness These things premised we proceed to the Case A Member of that Society whereof Mr. John Griffin is Teacher differing from the said Mr. Griffin in some Opinions touching the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the most high God viz. Doubting or Denying that he was indeed that most high God of whom he is the Son And having some Discourse about the same with Mr. Griffin in the said Society being threatned with a Warrant from his Highness and the Constable being sent for to suppress him at last Mr. Griffin thinking his Victory would not be great in overcoming this yong man and that it would tend more to the establishing the Truth of what he maintained if he should in a publick Dispute vanquish by Argument Mr. John Biddle whom he accompted the chief and ablest Oppugner of the supream Divinity of Jesus Christ He Challengeth to Dispute at Pauls in the Stone-Chappel with Mr. John Biddle and gives notice to the Congregation accordingly Whereupon notice was given to Mr. Biddle who knowing the unlearnedness and unskilfulness of his Opponent was very unwilling to Answer him but the second Challenge being urged by the yong man and other friend Mr. Biddle promised a Meeting which came to pass accordingly on Thursday the 28 of June last at the place aforesaid where the two Disputants being placed one against the other the Question was stated in these terms Whether Jesus Christ be the most High or Almighty GOD Which Question being stated Mr. Griffin undertook to prove the Affirmative but required first to know if any man did deny it which with how much ingenuity it was done on his part considering that was the very business they came about and the denial thereof was of so great danger and damage as by the sequel appears let sober men judge whereupon Mr. Biddle according to the manner of a Disputant did openly Deny We are not here to give an accompt of that Dispute only in the Conclusion Mr. Griffin being weary the further Dispute of this Question was referred to the Thursday following but before that time to wit on Wednesday last the Marshal of the City with the Constable were sent with a Warrant for Mr. Biddle which follows in these words or to this purpose By an Order of the Council dated July the 3d. You are forthwith to apprehend the body of John Biddle and to carry him before some Justice of Peace to Answer to such matters as shall be objected by one Mr. Brookbank c. Signed by Ch. P. L. M. of the City of London c. Whereupon forthwith Mr. Biddle was carried before Alderman Andrews who without any Examination or Mittimus save a verbal one Commanded Mr. Biddle to the Poultry-Compter-Prison where he now abides In the evening of the day this Commitment being done at 10 of the Clock in the morning about 9 at night comes a Mittimus from the Lord Major A Copy whereof followeth London ss THese are in pursuance of an Order of the Council of the 3 of July instant to require you to Receive and retain in your Custody the body of John Biddle until further Order and this shall be your Warrant C. P. M. Dated the 4th day of July 1655. To the Keeper of the Poultry-Compter London Here in the first place you have a man committed to prison by the bare word of a Justice of Peace Secondly You have him detain'd by vertue of an Order that expresseth no Crime there is indeed mention made of an Order of the Council but what that is who knows or whether that Order extend to the imprisoning of Mr. Biddle or only to the suppressing of the intended Dispute which might have been done with a word However Mr. Biddle continues a prisoner and cannot be Bayl'd yea it is intended as was intimated by the Lord Major to bring him to Trial at the next Sessions upon the Ordinance made in 1648 against Blasphemy and Heresie Having given thus a very short account of Mr. Biddle's imprisonment and suffering it will now be necessary to say something concerning the man himself his faith and practice that it may appear whether he be a subject capable of the Liberty promised in the Instrument of Government First for his Faith we may refer the Reader to the Catechism set forth under his Name wherein he Asserts the plain Scripture without any Exposition save what appears by the Questions wherein though you finde many things contrary to the Opinions of the present Ministers yet that doth not prove his Opinions to be Erronious any more than the Opinions of Luther a single person against the Judgement of so many thousands of the Learned Clergie that condemned him And indeed the authority of Scripture is of so great account with him that however he may be traduc'd for one that will not believe any more than his shallow reason can comprehend