Heaven unto Wrath and Indignation and it wounds and oppresses the Immortal Soul unto Death and Damnation Surely It is contrary to the very purpose of God in Order of Creation who made and Ordained Mankind free from Bondage and never brought him forth into the World to be a subjected slave to the will of another man in things Temporal much lesse in things Spiritual and relating to Eternity and this work of Imposing by force in matters of Faith Worship and Duty to God of one man upon another or of some Persons over all is certainly an Act of Bondage and Slavery laid as a grievous yoak upon the necks one of another and subjecting one another in Oppression not unto the good Will of the Creator but unto the evil will of mortal perishing and sinful Creature and this differing from and contrary to the pure and perfect Order and Decree of Creation which was blessed altogether and whatsoever is degenerated by Corruption and Erred through Temptation from that Pure and Holy Order of Creation either in things Wordly or Divine is in the Curse and Oposition against the Holy Creator and so is this thing of which I am now Treating Imposition upon Conscience in matters Divine and Temporal Force exercised in Spiritual Cases is the highest Product of Degeneration and the greater degression from the Holy Order of Creation for without Controversie the Creator himself reserved and retained in his alone onely Power the Priviledge of Supremacy in and over the inward man in all the matters Immortal that he might be the onely Lord in that Case and give Spiritual Law to Command and force thereby to exercise the Soul and heart in Fear Love Faith Worship and Obedience to himself that he might be served as the Lord over all most chiefly in respect of the Inward Spiritual and Immortal man This Power of Supremacy I say he reserved and retained in himself in the Creation to exercise over Mankind and did not commit this Priviledge to any other wherefore without Controversie it is an Usurpation of the Creators rightful Dominion it is a robbing of him of his Dignity and Prerogative it is an Act of Violence done against his Soveraignty an audacious intruding into his proper right and a violating of the Law and Decree of Creation for one Person or one People to assume to themselves Power Authority and Government over other Persons and Peoples in Commanding and Imposing in matters Spiritual over their Consciences in the Worship and Service of God and it is such an abomination against the Creator both in the Cause and End of it That he will arise and take Vengeance upon it and he will ease himself of all such his adversaries Again It is contrary to the Law of Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among the sons of men by order of Creation which God appointed to be among them and by Imposing in matters of Spiritual concern as aforesaid that Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among men decreed in Creation is broken and confounded and disannulled among them by reason of the same and Nations and Kingdoms hate and contend one with another Neighbors and Brethren cannot agree but fall into strife one against another Kings and their Subjects Rulers and their People are in discord debate Disobedience and Rebellion one contrary to another by reason that Liberty of Conscience in Worship and Duty to Godwards is wanting in the World and Impositions and force by outward Authority in that Case are prevailing and in Power And thus the Law of Love Unity and Concord Decreed in Creation is violated despised and made voyd and hatred divisions strifes and discords intraduced in its room and abounds in the Spirits and visible actions of the sons of men through the World to the woful effects of killing persecuting and destroying one another Nation of Nation Neighbours of Neighbours and Kings of their Subjects occasioned and grounded upon this thing as the Foundation of the same to wit Imposing by force upon Conscience in matters Divine Wherefore not onely against God is this evil extended to dishonour and disgrace him as is shewed but against man also is this evil and mischief in the effects of it reached forth as ye have seen and the Law of Creation is violated both in respect of Creator and Creature It is in its cause and ground so evil in its works and effects so wicked and mischievous and in its end so provoking and damnable and all this both in respect of God and man that I have not yet Comprehended the height and depth thereof though my Spirit from a Child hath often entered into the serious Considerations of this thing with mourning and sorrow because of it and with testimony and abhorrance against it and at this hour I am a sufferer in body and Spirit because of the same Carnal Imposition upon Conscience in Spiritual things wo unto it my Soul hates and my God will Plague in his season If I should study in searching to find out and to discribe all the evils mischiefs and wofull Inconveniences and effects of this Gulf out of which they ascend I might make this Epistle a large Volumn but since that I have elsewhere written about this matter I shall now Contract this with the saying of the Apostle This Mistery of iniquity doth work untill he be taken out of the way Yea this Imposition upon Conscience opposite to perfect Liberty in the exercise of the same is the onely Main Material Support Prop and Defence of the Kingdome of Antichrist throughout the World at this day and whomsoever as are friends hereunto they are friends to him and they love his wayes and are subjects of his Kingdome and are rebellious against Christ and to his Kingdome they are Enemies Wherefore my heart and soul saith within me would to God I had such a gift of Demonstration by Pen or Tongue and that the same were so forcible and Efficacious to awaken every soul to an abhorrance and dislike of that Spirit Principle and Practice of Imposition upon Conscience that there might be a total turning from the Kingdome of Antichrist which Consists of Falshood Darkness Sin and Enmity of Bondage Oppression and cruel Impositions to the Kingdome of Christ Jesus which Consists of Truth Light and Righteousness of freedome and perfect Liberty in Soul and Spirit Which Kingdome and Government the Lord of Heaven and Earth will promote and Exalt in the Kingdomes of this World which must become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of His Christ according to Promise It hath ever been my Iudgment That want of Liberty and free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters and the Contrary Imposed by worldly Power and it remains still with me That this is one main Cause of the woful Distractions in Kingdomes of the unsetledness in States and of many evil Consequences abounding in the Governments of the World and also the Cause wherefore the God of Heaven is angry and provoked
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
of the Popes Maxim's viz. that when he sees the Spiritual Weapons are not sufficient for him then doth he fly unto the carnal therewith to help himself Int Duiiâ—se 244. And others have been and are of that opinion That Religion could not be preserved without the Magistrates Sword therefore understood they that they were to be cryed unto for help as many do now But Ireneus Philaletius said That this was but a humane invention of the Natural understanding which would gladly change the Nature of the Church of Christ but it is in vain said he The States of Holland said That the true Ministers of Christ who did perfectly trust in the Lord had no External Sword nither did they call unto any civill Power for Protection but they used the Sword of the Spirit which is the living Word of God with which they defended the Church c. vide urede Handel van Colen Pag. 198. Barnardus said That the Kindome of Christ was Spiritul and as it was builded by Spiritual Vertues so was it spread preserved and established with Spiritual Weapons for its Enemies were and are Spiritual Eph. 6.11 2.2 Lactantius said If you will with blood with evil and with torments defend the Worship it shall not thereby be defended but polluted Lib. 5. Chap. 20. The Apostles had not the assistance of Emperours Kings Princes nor Lords but had even the whole World against them said a certain Wise Man wherefore how can this stirring up and instigating of Magistrates be Evangelical or according to the Gospel Or how can this work of tumultuous Teachers bring honour to Gods Word and his Truth Who hath heretofore defended the Church of Christ was it defended by Pilate Or was the Church of the Apostles no Church What coercive Power or outward Protection had they Or what external Power or outward defence had their Church in the Beginning And cannot the true Church now subsist with that which she had in the Begining And it is evident that many who have suffered much Persecution for the exercise of their conscience have been thereby strengthened and have therein multiplyed therefore it is apparent that the fruit of Persecuting to death in matters of Religion is wholly contrary to the determination of Persecutors Castellius said That Paul strove with Spiritual Weapons and thereby overcame hundreds but we alas said he are together by hundreds to put to death one single man and appear for Christ with fleshly Weapons to the end that People might understand that we are stripped of the Spiritual Weapons and will have a fleshly Christ. But seeing the Apostles who Planted the Church were satisfied with their Spiritual Weapons it is then evident that they who make use of carnal Weapons confide not sufficiently in the Spiritual which they would confide in no doubt if they had them seeing they are alsufficient as shall appear at the coming of the Lord who will conquer Antichrist his greatest Enemy with no other Weapon then with the Sword of his Mouth Constantinus the Emperour said That it was enough that he preserved the unity of the Faith that he might be excusable before the judgement Seat of God and that he would leave every one to his own understanding according to the account he will give before the judgement Seat of Christ hereto may we stir up People said he not compel them beseech them to come into the unity of the Christians but to do violence to them we will not in no wise Nota Herein was Constantinus much commended because that he tollerated every one to believe and to serve God as he was perswaded in his own heart esteeming his gentleness and mercy more available then severe Proclamations and in this particular he was not deceived Sabast. Frank. Chron. fol. 127. The Christian Religion said the States of Holland is a great Mistery for the furtherance of which God doth not make use of wicked Souldiers nor of Bow nor of Sword but his Spirit and the Shepherds that are sent by him further they said it was not their intention to compell any to their Religion c. CHAP. VII How the Inquisitioners and Clergy have stirred up the Powers to Persecute and what fair pretences Persecutors have had how dangerous it is to root out the Tares before the time and wherein the Ancient Protestants have been more Noble than the Clergy now IT is a common thing with many to accuse those with troubling of the Churches peace and with disturbing of the publick peace said a certain wise Man who teach otherwise than the Church or who speak any thing against the Clergy or dispute with any of their restless Priests or hold their Meetings apart though it be in all civility and stilness In like manner hath the Inquisitioners and the Clergy said he stirred up the Emperour the King of Spain and of France to terrible Persecution laying it upon their consciences to quit themselves severely against the Hereticks if they would escape the Lords reproof though most of their Subjects and Land should perish And when the Clergy had prevailed with them then they declared in their Proclamations and Edicts That their intent was onely the Glory of God and the Salvation of the Hereticks Souls and to prevent the peoples being drawn to any cursed Error or Sect but that they should continue in subjection and in the old observations of the Mother the H. Church and H. Christians Faith and Sacraments as appears from their Proclamations Annis 1538 1546 1560 1564. Erasmus said How that sometime it cometh to passe that those who with more fury then with good understanding carry on matters do sometime not only root out the Wheat with the Tares which Christ hath forbidden but also in place of rootting out the Tares do root out the Wheat seeing they Judge before they have understanding or will make that odious which is well spoken by perverting of it And they will have that to be a Zeal for Religion and a detesting of Heresie when it is the onely destroying of Godliness and Unity Chron. van de Rel. urijh 2 Deel pag. 33. Augustinus said Some disturbed the peace of the Church while they went about to root out the Tares before the time and through this Error of blindness said he are they themselves seperated so much the more from being united unto Christ. Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his hands with blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion Erasmus said That the World had common Lawes for to punish offenders but the Christian meeknesse must rather use diligence to reform men then to judge them In the begining of Reformation saith the Chron. the Church gloried of the Truths Weapons and desired that those that had any thing to say concerning their Doctrine should freely reprove them and they would defend the same with
to judge of what more assurance shall they have than the Magistrate who through their strong importuning blindly Persecute the Hereticks and have martyred and put to death most of the Christians and Servants of God said he how can they then more than the Magistrate judge of such hidden Mysteries as before mentioned Vide Synopsis Disp. 57. Thes. Chap. 20. CHAP. XIII The necessity of just and equal Liberty How expedient it is to hear and see before one Iudge How the Persecuting Clergy do follow the Example of the Iewes How Life and Conversation hath not been so much looked at as difference in Doctrine and Worship And how prejudicial it would be for Christians if their Counsel were followed that stir up men to Persecute ARemnus said The profitableness of the King and Kingdom requireth a firm and intire Union of all the Citizens and Subjects now there can be no firm Union said he except that all the Citizens and Subjects injoy equality and that especially in matters of Religion for inequallity among them in that particular is and hath been of most Politicians called one Pestilence of the Kingdom or Common-Wealth Anno 1575. Com. dist Fol. 79. Qui autem partem civium consulunt partem negligunt rem pernitiosissimam in civitatem inducunt Cicero in offi When the King Lodewick of France was much importuned by the Cardinals and Bishops to put several People to Death in his Dominion who were accused of much odious Heresie the King said If I were to begin a War with the Turk or the Devil I would first hear them And afterwards he sent Legaten to examine the matter and when he found them to be such in their Life and Conversation and Worship that he broke out with an Oath and said These men are better than I with my Catholicks Urede hand van Colen Fol. 39. The Iewes Scribes and Pharisees exclaimed against Christ to the Magistrate and said If he had not been an Evil doer we would not have delivered Him up unto thee And then they accused Him of perverting the Nation of forbidding the People to give tribute to Caesar of stirring up the People of casting out Devils through Beelzebub and they also said That they had a Law and that by that Law he ought to die c. Luke 23.2 5. John 18.30 Mark 3.21 John 19.6 7. Thus did they seek to deceive Pilate who was unexperienced in their Law even as the Clergy now said a certain Writer stir up the Magistrates with their Lies seeking to make them believe that they have a Law by which Hereticks ought to be Persecuted and put to Death and by their Sophistical Art said he can they prevaile with them so far as that finally they to continue their Friend and the Emperours or the Kings deliver them into their hands as Pilate did Christ who said Take Him and Iudge Him according to your Law c. Certainly said one where Christ is now made manifest there are also Iudas's to be found the World is no better nor holier then it was but rather worse and therefore doth the Truth now suffer under the name of Heresie said he as heretofore For now in these Dayes men do little regard Life or Conversation but presently fall upon judging of the Doctrine Persecuting and shamefully Intreating those that differ from them in Doctrine though their Life be never so good said he but indeed they ought to do otherwise and with the Spirit of Meekness to instruct those that Erre and not to put men to death for their Errors which is indeed a very great Error Condonabiles sunt quidem piorum hominum errores sicut et non quivis corporis morbus uxitialis est Certainly it is Unchristian-like yea unnatural That any should judge a man to be an obstinate Heretick who lives a good life and is of an upright mind and who cannot comprehend the matter otherwise than he understandeth it and thereupon is he resolved to suffer whatsoever may come but when they have nothing to charge against his Life then rail they against his Doctrine like as the Persecutors of Daniel said We shall have nothing against him except it be concerning his Worship And as Amazia the Priest of Bethel informed the King against Amos and accused him of Uproar and told him that the Land could not bear all his Words Amos 7.10 Dan. 6.5 Acts 24. Ier. 26.8 9 11. If one Sect should rise up against another to the destroying one of another which must needs follow if their Counsel be followed who would have Hereticks put to Death then when they had destroyed one another consider then what a door there would be opened for the Turk and for other Barbarous People for them to take possession of the remainder and then to Tyrannize over them But as Lactantius said Even as they are deceived in the Religion it self so are they deceived in the manner of its Protection for the true Religion is not to be defended with Killing but with Exhorting not with Cruelty but with Patience not with Wickedness but by Faith for they that go about to defend their Worship with Torments they rather pollute it than defend it CHAP. XIV Several Testimonies against Persecution and Forcing of Conscience Of the Liberty among the Heathen How Meekness is better than War How the Christians Meetings were forbidden upon Pain of Death And of the Efficacy of Faith and Patience STephanus King of Poland said It belongeth not to me to Reform the Conscience I have alwayes gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the Weeds to grow until the time of Harvest for I know that the number of Believers is but small therefore said he when some were proceeding in Persecution Ego sum Rex Populorum non Conscientiarum i. e. I am King of the People and not of their Consciences He also affirmed That Religion was not to be planted with Fire and Sword Chron. van de Rel. vrijh 2 deel Tindallus apud Foxium in Actis et Monument is said The New-Testament of Christ suffered no Law of Compelling but alone of Perswading and Exhorting pag. 1338. Timestius Exhorted the Emperor To cease from Persecution beseeching him that he would not be cruel by reason of the discord or defference of the Christians Doctrine seeing there was such a multitude of Sects among the Heathen and that every one continue in his own Doctrine contrary to the Meaning and Doctrine of the rest The Prince of Orange Testified That it was impossible that the Land should be kept in Peace except there was a free Tolleration in the exercise of Religion Anno 1579. Swinckfeild testified That according to the Doctrine of Christ and the Example of the Apostles it did not become the Preachers of the Gospel and Ministers of the New-Testament in no wise to Force with Violence and Tyranny the Conscience in Matters of Faith