Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	way_n	worship_v	2,169	5	8.9116	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54470	Persecvtion inconsistant with Christianity, humane society, and the honor of princes from the testimonies of themselves, and approved authors, and martyrs, herein impartially collected : whereunto is added certain solid reasons why no outward force, nor imposition ought to be used in matters of faith, &c. / by those faithfull witnesses who died under suffering for the testimony of Jesus, viz: Richard Hubberthorn, Samuel Fisher, Francis Howgill.	Crook, John, 1617-1699.; Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.; Fisher, Samuel, 1605-1665.; Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.	1670 (1670)	Wing P1660; ESTC R4070	17,093	32

in thy dayes said Menno in the Writing of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cryed out to the Magistrates for their Power against them that would not hear their Doctrine 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 it is Invocare Brachium Seculare It is not Christian like but Tyrannical said D. Philipson to Banish and Persecute People about FAITH and Religion and they that so do are certainly of the Pharisaical Generation who resisted the Holy Ghost Er●smus sad 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 In de Krijdges wrede Fol. 63. Lucernus said He that comandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience this is an Antichrist Inde Benuse disp Fol. 71. It was Luther's Opinion That those that stirred up the Princes to persecute abut Religion they raised the Uproar Thesaur pag. 679. REASONS FOR Liberty of Conscience SECT IV. Several Reasons rendred why no outward Force nor Imposition ought to be used in Matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE ought to be allowed in the dayes of the Gospel in the free Exercise of it to God-ward without Compulsion in all things relating to His Worship for these REASONS following 1. Because the General and Universal Royal-Law of Christ commands it Matth. 7. 12. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and Prophets That which every man would have and receive from another he ought by Christs RVLE to give and allow it to another But every man is willing to have the LIBERTY of his OWN CONSCIENCE therefore ought to ALLOW it to another 2. Because no man can perswade the Conscience of another either what God is or how he should be worshipped but by the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man in the Ways of Truth 3. Because all Obedience or Service that is obtained by force is for fear of Wrath and not from Love nor for Conscience sake and therefore will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4. Because that by forcing no man can make a Hypocrite to be a true Believer but on the contrary many may be made Hypocrites 5. Because that in all forced Impositions upon mens Consciences there is something of the wrath of man exercised which works not the Righteousness of God but rather begets enmity in the heart one towards another 6. Because that by forcing any thing upon mens Consciences as to matters of Faith and Worship many are hardened in their hearts against the things imposed when as otherwise through Love and gentle Instructions their hearts might be perswaded to willing obedience 7. Because that Persecution for Conscience contradicteth Christs Charge Matth. 13. who bids that the Tares or false Worshippers be suffered to grow together in the Field or World till the Harvest or End of the World 8. Because Force is contrary to the end for which it is pretended to be used viz. The preservation and safety of the Wheat which End is not answered by Persecution because the Wheat is in danger to be plucked up thereby as Christ saith 9. Because to Force is inconsistant with the belief of the Jews Conversion and other false Worshippers which is prayed for by the publick Teachers and cannot be attained if Persecution for Conscience be prosecuted 10. Because they that impose upon mens Consciences exercise Dominion over mens Faith which the Apostles denied saying They had not Dominion over any mans Faith 11. Because Imposition upon mens Consciences necessitates them to sin in yielding a Conformity contrary to their own Faith for whatsoever is not of a mans own Faith is sin 12. Because that Imposition and Force wrestles with flesh and blood and carnal Weapons which are contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said Our Weapons are not Carnal but Spiritual and Mighty through God and we wrestle not with Flesh and Blood 13. Because there is but One Iudge Law-giver and King in and over the Conscience as the Saints have testified in the Scriptures of Truth and whosoever would intrude so as to be Judge and Law-giver over the Conscience intrencheth upon the Perogative of Christ Isa. 33. 22. Iames 4. 12. 14. Because it is prophesied in Isa. 11 The Woolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid and there shall be no Destroyer in all the Holy Mountain And therefore no Imposition upon mens Consciences 15. Because to impose upon mens Consciences for differences in Faith is contrary to the Advice of the Apostle who directs People to wait upon God to be satisfied and not to the Magistrates or others to be forced who saith Whereunto we have attained let us walk and wherein any man is otherwise minded God shall reveal even that unto him 16. Because to force mens Consciences and to lay Yoaks upon them is to make void the Blood-shed and Sufferings of Christ who sits upon the Throne of the Conscience and gives liberty there and commands us to stand fast in that liberty and not to be entangled through the Impositions of men or Yoak of bondage Gal. 5. 6. 17. Because in all Nations the different Professions and Perswasions of Religion are either Friends or Enemies to the Governors if Friends then obliged by that bond if Enemies then Christ's Command is to take place who saith Love your Enemies which if observed Persecution for Conscience will be avoided 18. Because Toleration of different Perswasions in Religion was allowed in the Iewish State as not inconsistant with their Safety and that in things contrary each to other as the Sadduces Pharisees Esaeans Herodians with others 19. Because the true Religion cannot be preached up by force of ARMES and the primitive Christians detested that Form of Proceedings 20. Because no man hath such power by outward compulsion over the Souls and Consciences of other men as to lay a necessity on them to believe that which they do not believe or not to believe what they do believe true Faith being the Gift of God 21. Because If the Magistrate imposeth upon the Conscience he must either do it as a Magistrate or as a Christian Not as a Magistrate for then Heathens being Magistrates have the same power to impose and so by Revolutions and Conquests may come to give Laws to Christians and compel them to Idolatry 2. Not as Christians for that contradicts Christ's saying The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them but it shall not be so among you for all ye are Brethren 22. Because by the same Rule and Reason that the Magistrates of one Nation ought to impose upon and persecute for Conscience the Magistrates in all

other Nations ought to do the same and so the greatest part of Mankind may come to be destroyed there being more that Dissent than are at Unity in Matters of Faith and Religion 23. Because the strength of Truth and its Conquest over Falsity and Deceit is best discovered by letting both have their Liberty from outward Compulsion For no doubt had outward Force been less used the prevalency of Truth had been more manifest and that wise Saying truly experienced in the World viz. That which is of God will stand and that which is not will come to nothing 24. Because the Disciples of Christ are rebuked by him for desiring the Destruction of those that were contrary to him and would not receive Him which zeal is sharply reproved in his Saying They knew not what Spirit they were of 25. Because to impose upon mens Consciences and to destroy their Persons for difference in Religion is contrary to the end of Christ's coming who saith He came not to Destroy mens Lives but to save them 26. Because People of divers Religions in one Nation if not tollerated must some of them be destroyed or removed by banishment If destroyed the Constancy and Patience of the Sufferers for their Faith moving Pitty and Commiseration makes men more ready to own then to reject their Faith and so rather multiplies than lessens the number of its Professors if banished this renders the Banished as so many Enemies abroad ready upon all occasions to disturb the Peace and Tranquillity of their own native Country There is therefore in order to the outward welfare of all Nations a kind of necessity for a Tolleration in them of all Religions 27. Because to impose upon mens Consciences begets a hatred against the Imposers in those who are imposed upon and forced thereby to violate their Consciences towards God in matters of Worship 28. Because men are commanded to be subject to the Powers that are for Conscience sake and therefore such Powers ought not to persecute men for Conscience sake being that is prescribed for the Rule of Obedience the Scriptures saying Be ye subject not only for Wrath but for Conscience sake SECT 5. Several Sayings collected from the Speeches and Writings of King Iames and King Charles the First WE find it asserted by King Iames in his Speech to the Parliament in the year 1609. who said That it is a pure Rule in Divinity That God never loves to plant his Church with VIOLENCE and BLOOD and furthermore said It was usually the condition of Christians to be PERSECUTED but not to PERSECUTE And we find the same things in substance asserted again by his Son Charles the First in his Book known by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Printed for R. Ro●ston as followeth Pag. 67. In his Prayer to God he said Thou seest how much Cruelty among Christians is acted under the colour of Religion as if we could not be Christians unless we crucifie one another Pag. 28. Make them at length seriously to consider that nothing violent and injurious can be religious Pag. 70. Nor is it so proper to hew out religious Reformations by the Sword as to pollish them by fair and equal Disputations among those that are most concerned in the Differences whom not Force but Reason ought to convince Sure in Matters of Religion those Truths gain most upon mens Judgements and Consciences which are least urged with Secular Violence which weakens Truth with Prejudices Pag. 115. It being an Office not only of Humanity rather to use Reason then Force but also of Christianity to seek Peace and ensue it Pag. 91 92. In point of true conscientious tenderness I have often declared how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on Gods Soveraignty which is the only King of mens Consciences Pag. 123. Nor do I desire any man should be further subjuect unto me then all of us may be subject unto God Concerning Oaths Pag. 76. The injoyning of Oaths upon People must needs in things doubtfull be Dangerous as in things unlawfull Damnable Some words of Advice from CHARLES the First to the then Prince of Wales now King of England c. Page 165. My Counsel and Charge to you is That you seriously consider the former real or objected Miscariages which might occasion my Troubles that you may avoid them c. Beware of Exasperating any Factions by the Crosness and Asperity of some mens Passions Humors and private Opinions imployed by you grounded only upon differences in lesser matters which are but the Skirts and Suburbs of Religion wherein a Charitable Connivance and Christian Tolleration often Dissipates their strength when rougher Opposition Fortifies and puts the despised and oppressed party into such Combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their Persecutors who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commisseration which attends all that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion Pag. 166. Take heed that outward Circumstances and Formalities of Religion devour not all Pag. 164. Your Prerogative is best shewed and exercised in remitting rather then exacting the rigor of the Laws there being nothing worse then Legal Tyranny To these Sayings we add more as Collected out of the same Book in duodecimo IN his Prayer page 1. O never suffer me for any reason of State to go against the Reason of Conscience which is highly to fight against thee the God of Reason and Judge of our Consciences P. 121. Break in sunder Oh Lord all violent Confederations to do wickedly and injuriously Page 136. Thou Oh Lord shalt destroy them that speak Lyes the Lord will abhor both the Blood-thirsty and Deceitful men Page 164. Church Affairs should be mannaged neither with Tyranny Parity nor Popularity neither people oppressed Page 168. He declares his willingness for fair satisfaction unto all and against Covetousness and Superstition Page 171. Oh thou that art the God of Reason and Peace soften our hearts and perswade us to accept of Peace with thy self and both to secure and preserve Peace among our selves as men and Christians Condemn us not to our passions which are destructive both of our selves and others Clear up our Understandings to see thy Truth both in Reason as men and in Religion as Christians Page 180. Stir up all Parties Pious Ambitions to overcome each other with Reason Moderation and such Self-denial as becomes c. Page 200. O thou Soveraign of our Souls the only Commander of our Consciences And further in his Advice to the Prince of Wales now KING c. Page 234. The best Government and highest Soveraignity you can attain unto is To be subject to God that the Scepter of his Word and Spirit may rule in your heart Page 239. He pleads for better Arguments for Convincement then Tumults Armies and Prisons Pag. 241. Alwayes keep up sollid Piety and those Fundamental Truths which mend both hearts and lives of men with impartial Favour and Justice Pag. 242. My Charge and Counsel to you is that as you need no palliations for any design so that you studdy really to exceed in true and constant Demonstrations of Goodness Piety and Vertue towards the people even all these men that make the greatest noise and ostentations of Religion so you shall neither fear any detection as they do who have but the Mask of Goodness nor shall you frustrate the just Expectations of your people Pag. 243. Use all Princely Arts and Clemency to heal the Wounds that the Smart of the Cure may not equal the Anguish of the hurt Pag. 244 As your quality sets you beyond any Duel with any Subject so the nobleness of your mind must raise you above the meditating any revenge or executing your Anger upon the many Pag. 248. Keep you to true Principles of Piety Vertue and Honour you shall never want a Kingdom In his Meditations on Death pag. 346 It is indeed a sad fate for any man to have his Enemies to be Accuser Parties and Judge Some few Errors and Defects having escaped the Press the Reader may Correct Page 9. Line 26. for Actions read Axioms p. 11. l. 19. for repugnatum read repurgatam l. 20. for Persus read Persas p. 12. l. 9. for distinguished read extinguished p. 13. l. 12. for counsel like read like counsel THE END