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A30511 The case of free liberty of conscience in the exercise of faith and religion presented unto the King and both Houses of Parliament ... / by ... Edward Burroughs. Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.; Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685.; England and Wales. Parliament. 1661 (1661) Wing B5986; ESTC R5152 10,124 15

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THE CASE OF FREE Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of FAITH and RELIGION Presented unto the KING and both Houses of PARLIAMENT And also Proved absolute needfull and requisite for them to grant and allow in these Kingdoms By many Considerations and Reasons unfolding the wofull effects and ill consequence which will infallably follow upon the contrary To the misery and destruction of these Nations if the free exercise of Conscience to God-ward be limitted and violently restrained By a Lover of Truth and Just Government EDWARD BVRROVGHS LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons 1661. TO THE KING And both Houses of PARLIAMENT FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is mighty and powerful and bringeth to pass whatsoever he will in the Kingdomes of this World so to suffer it to be accomplished that power and authority is given unto you to exercise over these Kingdomes And whereas the people of these Nations over whom your Authority is extended are divided in their Judgments in matters Spiritual and are of different Principles and wayes in Relation to Faith and Worship and practises of Religion and yet are all of them free-born people and Natives of these Kingdoms and as such ought to possesse and injoy their Lives Liberties and Estates by the just Lawes of God and man And may not justly any of them be destroyed by you nor one sort of another in their Persons and Estates by Death Banishment or other Persecutions for and because only of their differences in matters of opinion and judgement nor though they are contrary minded in profession of Faith and Worship and Religion while they do walk peaceably and justly in their Conversations under the Kings Authority and do not make practise of their Religion to the violating of the Government nor to the injury of other mens Persons or Estates but ought rather to be defended and Protected by you in all their rights both as men and Christians both in things Civil and Spiritual Notwithstanding their difference in matters Religious as aforesaid they giving proof of their peaceable and honest deportment towards the King and his Government and the people of these Kingdomes And therefore that due care may be had as justly it ought to be by you for the Peace and Prosperity and happiness of these Kingdomes and that the just Liberties both civil and Spiritual of all people therein may be allowed and maintained in all the Kings Dominions and that unity and peace may be fully established and justice and Righteousness only brought forth in the Land and all Persecution Hatred Contention and Rebellion may die and perish and never more appear And that all Christian people though different in judgement and practises in matters of Faith and worship may be protected to live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty under this Government and that indignation and vengeance may he diverted from these Lands which seems to threaten because of the contrary and that blessings and peace may come and rest upon this people forever Therefore for these ends and causes and in the Name of the Lord I do propound unto you and lay before you on the behalf of all the divided people of these Kingdoms That free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith Worship and Religion to God-wards may be allowed and maintained unto all without any imposition violence or persecution exercised about the same on the persons Estates or consciences of any in any relation of Religion the Worship of God Church Government and Ministry But that all Christian People may be left free in all these Kingdomes in the exercise of Conscience without being restrained from or compelled to any way of Worship and practise of Relig●on upon any pains and penalties and that every one may be admitted to worship God in that way as his spirit perswades the heart and may be defended in such their profession of Religion while they make not use of their Liberty to the detrement of any other mens persons or Estates as aforesaid And let it not seem strange to you why I appear in this manner and matter at such a season as this for your very happiness prosperity and establishment or the contrary dependeth hereupon even in allowing and maintaining liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion or in limiting and forcing and persecuting about the same and this may appear if ye justly consider these things following 1. The Lordship in and over conscience and the exercise thereof in all matters of Faith and worship and duty to God-wards is Gods alone only and proper right and priviledge and he hath reserved this power and Authority in himself and not committed the Lordship over Conscience nor the exercise thereof in the cases of faith and worship to any upon Earth not to prescribe and impose principles and Practises of Faith and worship and Religion by force and violence on the persons and Consciences of men but this belongs only to God even to work faith in the heart and to convert to holiness and to lead and teach people by his Spirit in his worship and to exercise their Consciences in all his wayes For the Apostles themselves said they had not Dominion over the Faith of the Saints 2 Cor. 1. 24. but the Lord alone And King Charles the first said in his Meditations page 91. of that Edition Printed for R. Royston I have often declared how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on Gods Soveraignity which is the only King of mens Consciences c So that to be Lord in Conscience and exerciser thereof in all the matters of Gods Kingdome is his only proper right and to him alone it appertains 2. And therefore consider if ye do not allow free liberty of Conscience and give unto God the Lordship and exercise thereof in all matters of Faith and Worship to him-wards but do impose by violence in forcing to and restraining from such and such wayes of Religion then ye take Dominion over mens faith which ye ought not to do and ye intrench on Gods Soveraignity and usurps his Authority in exercising Lordship over the Conscience in and over which Christ is only King as before recited and ye ought not to take his right from him nor to exercise that Authority over mens faith and Cons●iences which only appertains unto him as his proper priviledge for in so doing how dangerous effects may it bring forth even ye may easilie provoke the Lord to wrath against you and bring upon your selves sorrow and misery if ye excise violence upon mens Consciences in and concerning Religious matters contrary to the Scriptures and the example of Primitive Christians who were persecuted for their Conscience sake but did never persecute nor punish any for that cause nor ever used violence about their Religion as Charles the I. in his meditations pag. 82. nothing said he violent nor injurious can be religious c. 3. Consider if