Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A26073
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A seasonable discourse against toleration with a preface wherein the nature of persecution in general and the unjust complaints of the dissenting parties concerning it in particular are distinctly considered.
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Assheton, William, 1641-1711.
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1685
(1685)
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Wing A4041; ESTC R23636
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62,270
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115
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conscientia liganda then ligat but certainly the Devil in the Conscience may be nay he must be bound or else you act not according to that vigour that Christ hath put into your hands nor according to that exactness that Christ requireth at your hands It is true indeed which is so much talked of that Christ alone must reign in the Conscience but it is as true also that he doth so by the Power that he hath put into the hands of the Magistrate as well as by his word and spirit c M. Thom Watson before the Com Decem 27. 1649. p. 17. Lond. Printed for Ra Smith at the Bible in Cornhil 1649. If Conscience be a sufficient plea the Papist will come in for a Childs part Conscience must have a Rule it binds only virtute praecepti by virtue of a precept If Conscience goes against the Word Deponenda est talis Conscientia Get conscience better informed a M. Hughes Serm. before the Com May 26. 1647. p. 34. Lond. Printed for John Roth well at the Sun fountain in Pauls Chyard I must say that the Toleration of all things must be a destructive Principle to the State or Church where ever it be allowed Experience hath shewed us no less in Kingdoms and Churches Called by Gods name These are only suggested which need a larger Treatise to state fully Ye Servants of Christ take heed of yeelding to the pretences of Conscience the Devil and not Christ hath his Throne there And no stronger hold for him than Conscience if he once take it Christ will not suffer him to shelter there therefore ye may not so much as in you lieth Doe not other States as some of the united Provinces Dub. tolerate all these Heresies and protect them and yet they prosper who more I desire not to deal with other States unless I might do Sol. them good I am now only called to our own yet others being made exemplary a word in soberness and truth may not offend I suggest only these thoughts 1. Can any man say that prosperity is a sign peculiar unto Truth then let Rome come in and speak more than any for outward prosperity 2. Are not spirituall wickednesses as odious to God as carnall and are not these Heresies such which God condemnes as works of the flesh inconsistent with the Kingdome of Christ 3. Hath God made an end yet of visiting Nations for the sinnes of them when God hath done judging were a better time to urge this Example then now I pray God the evill day may not overtake those States the good Lord cause the Cup of trembling to pass by them and purge their iniquities peaceably But I am pressed in Spirit to say God hath not spared such State Polities which have sought their own rise by the ruine of God and his Truth Witness Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin And he bids sin that doth not hinder Qui non vetat peccare cum potest jubet Sen. it when he can Gods Truth my beloved and not mans example must be the Rule if Heresies yet must be let us mourn for what we cannot help it is a miserable necessity when not allowed it will be rejoycing in iniquity either for State or Church willfully to tolerate a M. Ed. Calamy Ser. before the Ld Mayor Jan. 14. 1645. p. 3. Though God hath given us glorious victories over our Enemies yet the Churches of Christ ly desolate Church-Reformation is obstructed Church-Discipline unsetled Church-Divisions increased The famous City of London is become an Amsterdam Separation from our Churches is countenanced Toleration is cryed up Authority lyeth asleep b Ser. before the Lords Dec. 25. 1644. p. 13. It would seem a wonder if I should reckon how many seperated Congregations or rather Segregations there are in the Citty what Churches against Churches c. the Lord Knows that I mention these things with a sad heart c ut supra p. 4. Divisions whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Politicall in Kingdomes Citties or Families are infallible causes of Ruine to Kingdoms Citties and Families d p. 14. Hereby the hearts of People are mightily distracted many are hindred from Conversion and even the Godly themselves have lost much of the power of Godliness in their lives I say the hearts of People mightily disturbed while one Minister preacheth one thing as a truth of the Gospel and another Minister Preacheth the quite Contrary with as much Confidence as the former a P. 17. If Divisions be so destructive to Kingdoms Cities and Families this reproveth those that are the Authors and Fomentors of these Divisions that are now amongst us These are the Incendiaries of England If he that sets one house on fire deserveth hanging much more they that set a whole Kingdom on fire If he that murders one man must be put to death much more he that Murders three Kingdoms Mark them saith the Apostle Rom. 16. 17. that cause divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have Learned and avoid them Avoid them as the greatest enemies of England These are like the Salamander that cannot live but in the fire of contention These are of a Jesuiticall spirit And no doubt the heads and hands of the Jesuits are in all our Divisions b P. 33. Take heed of the Land-destroying opinion of those that plead for an illimited toleration of all Religions even of Turkisme Judaisme c. The Lord keep us from being poysoned with such an Error * This Text Mat. 12. 25. Every Kingdom divided against it selfe is brought to Desolation riseth up against it for it will divide a Kingdome against it self It will rend it in a thousand pieces It is a Doctrine directly contrary to your late Oath and Covenant A Doctrine that overthroweth all Church Government bringeth in Confusion and openeth a wide door unto all irreligion and Atheisme For at the same door that all false Religions comes in the true Religion will quickly get out and if it be as good for a man to live where nothing is lawfull as where all things are lawfull surely it is every way as uncomfortable to live where there are all Religions as where there is no Religion at all c P. 37. It is your Duty Right Honourable whom God hath betrusted with great Power to suppress these Divisions and Differences in Religion by your Civil Authority as farr as you are able least you are accessary unto them For God hath made you Custodes utriusque Tabulae Keepers not of the second Table only as some fondly imagine but of the First Table also and not only Keepers but vindices utriusque Tabulae Punishers also of those that transgress against either of them For you are the Ministers of God for good and Revengers to execute wrath upon him that doth evill Rom. 13. 4. and God hath deputed you for the Punishment of evill doers and for the
Cor 1. 10. 1 Cor 12. 25. * Divisions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom 6. 17. with 1 Cor. 3 3. Gal 5 20. IV. m The same would follow if Presbytery were Tolerated Many mischiefes will inevitably follow upo◠this Toleration and that both to Church and Common-wealth First to the Church as 1. Causeless and unjust revolts from our Ministry and Congregations 2. Our Peoples minds will be troubled and in danger to be subverted as Acts 15. 24. 3. Bitter heart-burnings among Brethren will be fomented and perpetuated to Posterity 4. The Godly painfull Orthodox Ministry will be discouraged and despised 5 The life and power of Godlinesse will be eaten out by frivolous disputes and vaine janglings 6. The whole course of Religion in private Families will be interrupted and undermined 7. Reciprocall Duties between persons of nearest and dearest Relations will be extreamly violated 8. The whole work of Reformation especially in Discipline and Government will be retarded disturbed and in danger of being utterly frustrate and void whilest every person shall have liberty upon every triviall discontent at Presbyteriall Goverment and Churches to revolt from us and list themselves in separated Congregations 9. All other Sects and Heresies in the Kingdome will be encouraged to endeavour the like Toleration 10. All other Sects and Heresies in the Kingdome will safeguard and shelter themselves under the wings of Independency and some of the Independents in their Books have openly avowed that they plead for Liberty of Conscience as well for others as for themselves 11. And the whole Church of England in short time will be swallowed up with destruction and confusion And God is not the Author of confusion but of peace 1. Cor 14. 33. Secondly to the Commonwealth for 1. All these mischiefs in the Church will have their proportionable influence upon the Commonwealth 2. The Kingdome will be wofully weakned by scandalls and Divisions so that the enemies of it both domesticall and forreign will be encouraged to plot and practice against it 3. It is much to be doubted lest the power of the Magistrate should not onely be weakened but even utterly overthrowne considering the Principles and practices of Independents together with their compliance with other Sectaries sufficiently a And are not Presbytarian principles known to be so too knowne to be Anti-Magistraticall b And as inconsistent with other Oaths imposed by Lawfull Authority which that was not V. Such a Toleration is utterly repugnant and inconsistent with that solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion which not only both houses of Parliament but also persons of all sorts in both Kingdoms of England and Scotland have subscribed and with hands lifted up to the most high God have sworn a Which Oaths have been taken by most of the chief sticklers for Toleration and with a True intention it was hoped to performe the same which Covenant likewise both you and we and those that most earnestly pursue the establishment of Toleration have made or should have made in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at the Great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed For 1. This is opposite to the Reformation of Religion according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches Article 1. 2. n The Toleration of Presbytery is no less destructive to the conjunction and uniformity of all the three Kingdomes then Independency It is destructive to the three Kingdomes nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion and Government which might lead us and our posterity after us as Brethren to live in faith and Love Art 1. 3. o Seeing Presbytery is as much a Schisme from Episcopacy as Episcopacy or independency was from Presbytery why do they now in stead of extirpation desire the Toleration of it contrary to your Covenant It is plainly contrary to that extirpation of Schisme and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godlinesse which we have sworne sincerely really and constantly to endeavour without respect of persons 4. p Toleration of Schisme rendreth Magistrates and Ministers accessary to the Errours Sins and Destruction of seduced and deluded People Hereby we shall be involved in the guilt of other mens sins and thereby be endangered to receive of their Plagues Art 2. 5. It seems utterly impossible if such Toleration should be granted that the Lord should be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes Art 2. 6. This will palpably hinder the Reformation of Religion inevitably divide one Kingdome from another and unhappily make factions and parties among the People contrary to this League and Covenant of which evil offices whosoever shall be found guilty are reputed in the Words of the Covenant q The Toleration of deformity even in little Matters sometimes causeth factions and parties amongst the People Let Vs have a care we be not Incendiaries or evill Instruments for Sacrilegious spirits to work by ill affected as well to Presbytery as Episcopacy Incendiaries Malignants Malignants and evill Instruments to be discovered that they may be brought to publick triall and receive condigne punishment Art 4. 5. These are some of the many Considerations which make deep impressions upon our spirits against that great Diana of Independents and all the Sectaries so much cryed up by them in these distracted times viz. A Toleration a Toleration And however none should have more rejoyced then our selves in the establishment of a Brotherly Peaceable and Christian accommodation yet this being utterly rejected by them we cannot dissemble how upon the fore-mentioned grounds we detest and abhor the much endeavoured Toleration Our Bowels our Bowels are stirred within us and we could even Drowne our selves in Tears when we call to mind how long and sharp a travell this Kingdom hath been in for many years together to bring forth that blessed fruit of a pure and perfect Reformation and now at last after all our pangs and dolours and expectations this Reall and through Reformation is in danger of being strangled in the Birth by a lawless Toleration that strives to be brought forth before it Wherefore Reverend and Beloved Brethren we could not satisfy our selves till we had made some discovery of our Thoughts unto you about this matter not that we can harbour the least jealousy of your zeale fidelity or industry in the opposing and extirpating of such a root of gall and bitterness as Toleration is and will be both in present and future Ages but that we may what lies in us endeavour mutually to strengthen one anothers resolutions against the present growing evills and that our Consciences may not smite us another day for sinfull silence or sluggish deficiency in any point of Duty tending to the glory of Christ Honour of the Truth Peace of the Church Perfection of