A discourse concerning liberty of conscience In which are contain'd proposalls, about what liberty in this kind is now politically expedient to be given, and severall reasons to shew how much the peace and welfare of the nation is concern'd therein. By R.T.
         Pett, Peter, Sir, 1630-1699.
      
       
         
           1661
        
      
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             A discourse concerning liberty of conscience In which are contain'd proposalls, about what liberty in this kind is now politically expedient to be given, and severall reasons to shew how much the peace and welfare of the nation is concern'd therein. By R.T.
             Pett, Peter, Sir, 1630-1699.
             Dury, John, 1596-1680.
          
           [2], 117, [1] p.
           
             printed for Nathaniel Brook, and are to be sold at his shop at the Angel in Cornhill,
             London :
             1661.
          
           
             R.T. = Sir Peter Pett.
             Author attribution from Wing.
             "A discourse representing the liberty of conscience, that is practised in forreign parts. By N.Y." (i.e. John Dury) has separate dated title page; register and pagination are continuous.
             Part 2 identified on UMI microfilm (Early English books, 1641-1700) reel 1883 as Wing (2nd ed.) D2853.
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         eng
      
       
         
           Liberty of conscience -- Early works to 1800.
           Dissenters, Religious -- Early works to 1800.
           Religious tolerance -- England -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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               A
               DISCOURSE
               CONCERNING
               LIBERTY
               of
               CONSCIENCE
               ,
               In
               which
               are
               Contain'd
               PROPOSALLS
               .
            
             
               About
               what
               Liberty
               in
               this
               kind
               is
               now
               Politically
               Expedient
               to
               be
               given
               ,
               and
               severall
               Reasons
               to
               shew
               how
               much
               the
               Peace
               and
               Welfare
               of
               the
               Nation
               is
               concern'd
               therein
               .
            
             
               By
               
                 R.
                 T.
              
               
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
            
             
               Printed
               for
               
                 Nathaniel
                 Brook
              
               ,
               and
               are
               to
               be
               sold
               at
               his
               shop
               at
               the
               Angel
               in
               Cornhill
               .
               1661.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               DISCOURSE
               CONCERNING
               
                 Liberty
                 of
                 Conscience
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               
            
             
               I
               Am
               not
               ignorant
               that
               it
               is
               the
               fate
               of
               those
               who
               propound
               modells
               concerning
               Affaires
               of
               State
               or
               Religion
               ,
               to
               be
               usually
               look'd
               on
               as
               knaves
               or
               fools
               ,
               and
               as
               such
               who
               either
               do
               not
               know
               the
               incurable
               defects
               of
               humane
               nature
               ,
               or
               by
               pretending
               to
               cure
               them
               ,
               would
               only
               mend
               their
               own
               fortunes
               .
            
             
               Leaving
               therefore
               the
               makers
               of
               plat-forms
               about
               morall
               things
               to
               such
               censures
               as
               attend
               them
               ,
               I
               shall
               not
               
               here
               in
               this
               following
               discourse
               of
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               so
               much
               resemble
               him
               that
               draws
               the
               modell
               of
               an
               house
               ,
               as
               one
               that
               applies
               an
               Engin
               to
               quench
               one
               a
               fire
               .
               And
               indeed
               the
               security
               of
               the
               Nation
               is
               so
               concerned
               in
               the
               granting
               of
               this
               Liberty
               ,
               that
               any
               who
               shall
               by
               the
               contrary
               practice
               pretend
               to
               promote
               that
               ,
               will
               most
               truly
               deserve
               the
               name
               of
               a
               projector
               .
            
             
               Moreover
               ,
               I
               know
               that
               in
               nothing
               more
               then
               about
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               querulous
               persons
               have
               shewn
               a
               childishness
               in
               their
               complaints
               ,
               without
               telling
               what
               the
               very
               thing
               is
               that
               troubles
               them
               ,
               and
               how
               far
               they
               would
               have
               it
               removed
               ;
               and
               so
               complaining
               for
               want
               of
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               in
               generall
               ,
               have
               been
               as
               ridiculous
               as
               a
               Plaintiff
               would
               be
               ,
               that
               brought
               his
               Action
               about
               anothers
               owing
               him
               money
               in
               generall
               ,
               or
               a
               Judge
               that
               accordingly
               order'd
               some
               money
               in
               generall
               to
               be
               paid
               .
               When
               therefore
               any
               subjects
               have
               exprest
               the
               due
               Liberty
               their
               Consciences
               need
               ,
               then
               is
               a
               King
               
               in
               a
               capacity
               to
               shew
               a
               God-like
               benignity
               and
               power
               in
               granting
               the
               things
               they
               ask
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               they
               conduce
               to
               his
               honour
               and
               the
               peoples
               good
               .
               Nor
               is
               it
               rationall
               that
               this
               Liberty
               should
               be
               granted
               on
               other
               termes
               :
               For
               a
               King
               that
               gives
               to
               all
               men
               all
               the
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               they
               beg
               from
               Him
               this
               day
               ,
               will
               be
               forced
               to
               beg
               it
               from
               them
               the
               next
               .
               As
               I
               shall
               therefore
               decline
               such
               an
               offer
               of
               the
               ways
               of
               securing
               Liberty
               to
               the
               Consciences
               of
               the
               severall
               parties
               among
               us
               ,
               as
               might
               amount
               to
               the
               exactness
               of
               a
               modell
               ,
               and
               seem
               to
               impose
               upon
               the
               Magistrate
               ,
               and
               tempt
               other
               men
               into
               an
               opposition
               of
               those
               methods
               whereof
               they
               were
               not
               the
               Inventors
               ,
               so
               shall
               I
               likewise
               avoid
               the
               error
               of
               those
               who
               cry
               out
               for
               want
               of
               Liberty
               ,
               before
               they
               know
               their
               own
               minds
               fully
               in
               this
               affaire
               ,
               or
               take
               care
               that
               the
               Magistrate
               shall
               know
               them
               otherwise
               then
               by
               inspiration
               .
               Nor
               shall
               I
               at
               all
               in
               these
               papers
               consider
               what
               Liberty
               to
               the
               Consciences
               of
               others
               Religion
               ,
               
               but
               purely
               what
               politicall
               interest
               prompts
               us
               to
               give
               .
               It
               is
               ,
               I
               confess
               ,
               none
               of
               the
               most
               renowned
               principles
               for
               Nations
               to
               preserve
               a
               fair
               entercourse
               with
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               with
               their
               respective
               Members
               ,
               because
               't
               is
               their
               interest
               so
               to
               do
               ;
               but
               't
               is
               a
               thing
               much
               more
               shamefull
               for
               a
               people
               to
               be
               so
               infatuated
               ,
               as
               not
               to
               see
               their
               interest
               when
               it
               is
               most
               obvious
               to
               them
               ;
               as
               in
               this
               case
               of
               the
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               it
               so
               eminently
               is
               ,
               that
               it
               can
               be
               the
               reall
               Concernment
               of
               none
               but
               Souldiers
               of
               fortune
               to
               oppose
               it
               .
               'T
               is
               pity
               but
               those
               miseries
               which
               some
               mens
               pedantick
               incivilities
               to
               the
               Consciences
               of
               others
               have
               formerly
               overwhelm'd
               the
               Nation
               with
               ,
               should
               be
               so
               instructive
               to
               us
               ,
               as
               to
               convince
               us
               of
               the
               necessity
               of
               setting
               out
               the
               true
               bounds
               of
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               as
               the
               Egyptians
               of
               old
               by
               the
               overflowing
               of
               their
               Nile
               were
               forc'd
               upon
               the
               study
               of
               Geometry
               ,
               that
               so
               the
               certain
               bounds
               and
               proprieties
               of
               Lands
               might
               afterward
               be
               retrived
               .
            
             
             
               I
               shall
               therefore
               without
               any
               more
               Prefatory
               words
               addresse
               my self
               to
               the
               proposalls
               about
               the
               freedom
               that
               is
               now
               fit
               to
               be
               given
               to
               the
               severall
               Protestant
               parties
               ,
               differing
               in
               lesser
               matters
               of
               Religion
               among
               us
               ;
               whose
               perswasions
               being
               different
               from
               those
               own'd
               by
               the
               Reverend
               Divines
               of
               our
               old
               Hierarchy
               ,
               do
               put
               them
               in
               a
               present
               necessity
               of
               having
               some
               liberty
               granted
               to
               them
               .
            
             
               First
               then
               I
               shall
               propound
               ,
               that
               (
               if
               there
               be
               not
               a
               coalition
               of
               those
               that
               are
               call'd
               the
               Presbyterians
               ,
               and
               the
               Assertors
               of
               the
               former
               Hierarchy
               among
               us
               ,
               into
               the
               same
               form
               of
               Church-Government
               ,
               and
               thereby
               the
               Presbyterians
               so
               call'd
               be
               put
               in
               a
               capacity
               to
               divide
               the
               highest
               preferments
               of
               the
               Church
               with
               others
               ,
               )
               however
               no
               Ministers
               may
               be
               devested
               of
               their
               present
               Livings
               ,
               or
               be
               made
               uncapable
               of
               being
               presented
               to
               other
               ,
               meerly
               because
               they
               have
               been
               ordain'd
               by
               Presbyters
               without
               Bishops
               .
            
             
             
               Secondly
               ,
               that
               any
               publick
               Preachers
               of
               the
               Independent
               perswasion
               ,
               may
               not
               meerly
               because
               of
               that
               discriminating
               opinion
               of
               theirs
               ,
               be
               render'd
               uncapable
               of
               being
               Lecturers
               in
               any
               Parish
               where
               the
               major
               part
               of
               the
               Parish
               ,
               and
               the
               Minister
               shall
               desire
               them
               so
               to
               be
               .
               More
               liberty
               is
               not
               desired
               in
               their
               behalf
               ,
               because
               ,
               according
               to
               their
               principles
               ,
               it
               is
               not
               lawfull
               for
               them
               to
               take
               Tithes
               ,
               and
               to
               do
               the
               usuall
               Offices
               of
               a
               Minister
               in
               a
               Parish
               .
            
             
               The
               Reasons
               why
               I
               judge
               it
               convenient
               that
               the
               Pastors
               and
               Teachers
               of
               Independent
               Churches
               should
               thus
               (
               if
               nothing
               be
               alledged
               against
               them
               but
               their
               particular
               opinion
               )
               be
               permitted
               to
               preach
               publickly
               ,
               are
               ,
               because
               as
               to
               the
               Doctrinall
               part
               of
               Religion
               ,
               they
               concur
               with
               the
               39.
               
               Articles
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               ,
               and
               they
               are
               generally
               men
               of
               strict
               lives
               ,
               and
               are
               such
               as
               have
               been
               bred
               up
               in
               the
               Universities
               ;
               and
               if
               they
               have
               not
               the
               liberty
               allow'd
               them
               to
               preach
               
               publickly
               ,
               it
               will
               necessarily
               occasion
               their
               preaching
               to
               their
               Churches
               in
               private
               meetings
               ,
               which
               may
               be
               of
               worse
               consequence
               to
               the
               Magistrate
               then
               their
               publick
               preaching
               can
               be
               .
               And
               again
               ,
               their
               opinions
               about
               Church-Government
               ,
               though
               possibly
               not
               true
               ,
               are
               not
               unworthy
               of
               good
               and
               Learned
               men
               ;
               for
               by
               such
               they
               have
               been
               own'd
               ,
               as
               namely
               by
               
                 Ames
                 ,
                 Ainsworth
              
               ,
               and
               Cotton
               of
               New-England
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               that
               those
               of
               these
               perswasions
               that
               are
               not
               Ministers
               ,
               I
               mean
               Gentlemen
               and
               Tradesmen
               ,
               Presbyterian
               or
               Independent
               ,
               may
               not
               for
               their
               opinions
               sake
               as
               to
               Church-Government
               be
               debar'd
               of
               any
               civil
               employment
               in
               the
               Nation
               they
               are
               otherwise
               capable
               of
               .
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               that
               Anabaptists
               may
               not
               be
               punish'd
               meerly
               for
               their
               opinion
               of
               Administring
               Baptism
               as
               they
               do
               ,
               and
               their
               meeting
               to
               pray
               and
               preach
               ,
               and
               take
               the
               Sacrament
               of
               the
               Lords
               Supper
               together
               .
               For
               though
               those
               
               of
               that
               perswasion
               were
               in
               Germany
               as
               so
               many
               fire-ships
               among
               the
               States
               of
               the
               Empire
               ,
               it
               doth
               not
               follow
               that
               others
               here
               must
               necessarily
               prove
               incendiaries
               in
               the
               same
               manner
               :
               〈◊〉
               the
               acts
               of
               reasonable
               creatures
               may
               much
               more
               vary
               in
               severall
               places
               ,
               then
               Lightning
               and
               Thunder
               happen
               to
               be
               more
               hurtfull
               in
               some
               Countreys
               then
               other
               ,
               and
               some
               plants
               more
               or
               less
               poysonous
               in
               severall
               places
               .
            
             
               Fifthly
               ,
               that
               the
               Quakers
               may
               for
               a
               while
               be
               tolerated
               ,
               till
               we
               have
               seen
               what
               effects
               their
               light
               within
               them
               will
               produce
               .
               A
               present
               and
               a
               speedy
               punishing
               so
               numerous
               a
               party
               would
               not
               be
               prudent
               ,
               because
               the
               persecution
               of
               one
               party
               would
               alarme
               all
               the
               others
               ,
               and
               make
               them
               fear
               that
               their
               turnes
               would
               be
               next
               .
               This
               is
               a
               party
               that
               none
               have
               reason
               to
               fear
               as
               long-liv'd
               according
               to
               the
               course
               of
               nature
               ;
               for
               it
               doth
               not
               cherish
               the
               hopes
               of
               its
               followers
               by
               any
               sensuall
               pleasures
               in
               this
               World
               ,
               nor
               can
               its
               principles
               assure
               
               men
               of
               any
               reward
               in
               the
               World
               to
               come
               ;
               because
               the
               Quakers
               having
               degenerated
               from
               the
               light
               of
               the
               Scripture
               to
               that
               within
               them
               ,
               they
               can
               have
               no
               grounded
               assurance
               of
               any
               good
               terms
               in
               another
               World.
               
            
             
               Those
               of
               them
               that
               are
               idle
               ,
               and
               go
               from
               Town
               to
               Town
               ,
               neglecting
               their
               callings
               ,
               may
               without
               any
               injury
               or
               provocation
               to
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               parties
               he
               compell'd
               to
               work
               .
               And
               I
               am
               confident
               that
               these
               poor
               Enthusiastick
               people
               ,
               by
               hard
               labour
               and
               diligence
               in
               their
               callings
               ,
               might
               be
               at
               once
               curd
               of
               their
               melancholy
               and
               errours
               ,
               and
               be
               thus
               induced
               no
               longer
               to
               call
               a
               bad
               spleen
               a
               good
               Conscience
               .
               Undoubtedly
               any
               Enthusiast
               that
               had
               been
               tired
               in
               some
               Mechanicall
               Trade
               by
               very
               hard
               labour
               in
               the
               day
               ,
               would
               find
               little
               gusto
               in
               reading
               
                 Iacob
                 Behmon's
              
               works
               at
               night
               .
            
             
               Sixthly
               ,
               that
               those
               who
               professe
               the
               belief
               of
               a
               fifth
               Monarchy
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               of
               Christs
               Reigning
               personally
               on
               the
               Earth
               a
               thousand
               yeares
               ,
               and
               draw
               no
               
               consequences
               from
               thence
               about
               their
               duty
               in
               promoting
               that
               fifth
               Kingdom
               ,
               by
               being
               active
               in
               dethroning
               any
               Magistrates
               ,
               or
               devesting
               Bishops
               and
               Ministers
               of
               their
               places
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               said
               to
               be
               of
               the
               fourth
               ,
               may
               not
               for
               that
               opinion
               be
               liable
               to
               any
               punishment
               .
               For
               as
               ill
               uses
               as
               this
               opinion
               hath
               been
               put
               to
               in
               our
               dayes
               ,
               it
               was
               believed
               by
               almost
               all
               the
               Fathers
               of
               the
               Church
               before
               the
               first
               Nicene
               Councell
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               I
               do
               so
               state
               this
               sixth
               proposall
               ,
               that
               only
               those
               now
               that
               believe
               a
               Millennium
               ,
               and
               draw
               no
               more
               consequences
               of
               Rebellion
               and
               Sedition
               from
               it
               then
               its
               Primitive
               assertors
               did
               ,
               may
               have
               the
               benefit
               of
               liberty
               .
            
             
               As
               for
               those
               who
               by
               this
               innocent
               opinion
               would
               occasionally
               disturb
               civil
               Societies
               ,
               it
               is
               fit
               they
               should
               be
               dealt
               with
               as
               enemies
               of
               mankind
               ,
               and
               as
               such
               who
               would
               found
               the
               fifth
               Monarchy
               in
               a
               colluvies
               of
               more
               vile
               people
               then
               Romulus
               did
               the
               fourth
               ,
               and
               
               would
               multiply
               Confusions
               and
               Disorders
               in
               the
               World
               ,
               by
               destroying
               propriety
               ,
               and
               producing
               innumerable
               swarmes
               of
               Hypocrites
               ;
               in
               so
               much
               that
               if
               the
               Devil
               were
               to
               reign
               personally
               on
               the
               Earth
               ,
               he
               would
               not
               fill
               the
               World
               with
               more
               prodigious
               impieties
               .
               For
               't
               is
               likely
               that
               he
               would
               not
               take
               away
               more
               mens
               lives
               then
               they
               ,
               but
               rather
               be
               willing
               that
               severall
               generations
               of
               men
               should
               still
               succeed
               one
               another
               ;
               and
               that
               he
               would
               account
               the
               most
               provoking
               indignities
               that
               could
               be
               offer'd
               God
               in
               the
               World
               ,
               were
               only
               to
               be
               shewn
               by
               those
               men
               who
               would
               advance
               their
               temporall
               designes
               by
               Religion
               ;
               it
               being
               a
               greater
               affront
               to
               a
               King
               to
               be
               put
               to
               servile
               and
               ignominious
               uses
               in
               his
               Kingdom
               ,
               then
               to
               be
               banish'd
               from
               it
               .
            
             
               Till
               any
               factious
               assertors
               of
               the
               fifth
               Monarchy
               can
               shew
               Gods
               warrant
               for
               their
               having
               Donations
               from
               him
               of
               our
               Estates
               ,
               as
               the
               Israelites
               could
               for
               their
               seising
               on
               those
               of
               the
               
               Egyptians
               ,
               we
               have
               reason
               to
               look
               on
               them
               as
               the
               Nations
               exterminated
               by
               Ioshuah
               out
               of
               their
               Countries
               did
               on
               him
               ,
               who
               ,
               as
               Procopius
               saith
               in
               the
               second
               book
               of
               his
               Vandalics
               ,
               caus'd
               Pillars
               to
               be
               erected
               with
               words
               on
               them
               in
               the
               Phanician
               Language
               ,
               which
               he
               thus
               renders
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
               i.e.
               We
               fly
               from
               the
               face
               of
               Ioshuah
               the
               thief
               ,
               the
               Son
               of
               Nun.
               But
               without
               doubt
               these
               mens
               design
               is
               not
               to
               claim
               our
               goods
               by
               such
               a
               right
               as
               Gods
               people
               ,
               the
               Israelites
               ,
               (
               who
               yet
               were
               weary
               of
               the
               Theocracy
               they
               liv'd
               under
               )
               did
               the
               Egyptians
               first
               of
               all
               ,
               but
               as
               the
               Mammelucs
               did
               since
               ,
               whose
               Government
               is
               the
               true
               example
               of
               theirs
               who
               would
               rule
               us
               by
               a
               Nation
               within
               a
               Nation
               .
            
             
               And
               indeed
               those
               men
               may
               be
               asham'd
               to
               ask
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               who
               in
               their
               principles
               proclaim
               they
               will
               never
               give
               it
               ;
               from
               whom
               all
               the
               favour
               such
               as
               are
               not
               of
               their
               opinions
               can
               hope
               is
               to
               be
               kept
               so
               well
               in
               
               heart
               ,
               as
               to
               be
               able
               to
               hew
               their
               wood
               and
               draw
               their
               water
               for
               them
               .
               Moreover
               ,
               their
               abusing
               those
               words
               of
               the
               Saints
               inheriting
               the
               Earth
               ,
               or
               ,
               which
               is
               all
               one
               ,
               founding
               dominion
               in
               grace
               ,
               would
               leave
               us
               still
               in
               a
               state
               of
               war.
               For
               every
               man
               pretending
               to
               have
               grace
               ,
               nothing
               can
               decide
               the
               controversie
               but
               the
               Sword
               where
               there
               is
               no
               infallible
               judge
               .
               Among
               the
               Papists
               there
               is
               a
               pretended
               one
               ,
               and
               so
               the
               opinion
               of
               giving
               the
               ballance
               of
               Land
               to
               the
               party
               preponderating
               in
               grace
               ,
               where
               there
               is
               a
               steady
               hand
               to
               hold
               the
               scales
               ,
               is
               not
               among
               them
               so
               mischievous
               as
               here
               it
               would
               be
               .
            
             
               Seventhly
               ,
               that
               neither
               the
               old
               Discipline
               ,
               nor
               the
               Ceremonies
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               ,
               nor
               an
               acknowledgment
               of
               the
               lawfulness
               or
               expediency
               therof
               be
               obtruded
               on
               any
               of
               the
               fore-mention'd
               parties
               ;
               nor
               that
               any
               censures
               from
               Ecclesiasticall
               Courts
               ,
               by
               Fines
               or
               Excommunication
               may
               be
               extended
               against
               them
               for
               
               Non-conformity
               .
               For
               though
               Excommunication
               from
               a
               Church
               which
               a
               man
               doth
               not
               own
               as
               true
               ,
               or
               having
               Authority
               over
               him
               ;
               doth
               terrifie
               him
               no
               more
               then
               predictions
               of
               Thunder
               from
               Almanacks
               ,
               yet
               it
               makes
               that
               tremendous
               punishment
               of
               the
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               that
               judgement
               precursory
               of
               the
               last
               ,
               cease
               to
               be
               formidable
               .
               But
               truly
               according
               to
               the
               Custom
               of
               our
               Church
               ,
               and
               much
               more
               according
               to
               the
               Church
               of
               Scoland
               ,
               an
               Excommunicate
               person
               is
               some
               way
               obnoxious
               to
               outward
               punishments
               .
               And
               as
               our
               barbarous
               custom
               is
               for
               the
               Lord
               of
               a
               mannor
               to
               seize
               upon
               all
               the
               goods
               of
               any
               shipwrack'd
               persons
               that
               were
               thrown
               up
               by
               the
               Sea
               on
               his
               ground
               ,
               so
               in
               Scotland
               often
               the
               goods
               of
               those
               men
               who
               fall
               as
               wrecks
               on
               the
               shore
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               accrue
               to
               it
               .
               And
               thus
               accidentally
               trouble
               is
               created
               to
               the
               Magistrate
               about
               tempering
               the
               rigour
               of
               the
               Church
               by
               his
               power
               :
               As
               one
               not
               many
               yeares
               since
               Excommunicated
               in
               Scotland
               ,
               procur'd
               his
               
               Excommunication
               to
               be
               taken
               off
               by
               a
               Counsell
               of
               War
               ;
               and
               so
               it
               was
               revers'd
               
                 errante
                 gladio
              
               ,
               as
               laid
               on
               possibly
               
                 errante
                 clave
              
               .
            
             
               Having
               thus
               presented
               the
               proposalls
               to
               be
               considered
               ,
               and
               therein
               occasionally
               given
               some
               Reasons
               for
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               as
               it
               concerns
               some
               of
               the
               respective
               parties
               among
               us
               ;
               it
               remains
               now
               that
               more
               generall
               Reasons
               be
               produced
               ,
               and
               such
               as
               are
               comprehensive
               of
               the
               concernments
               of
               all
               or
               most
               of
               the
               parties
               differing
               in
               lesser
               matters
               of
               Religion
               :
               To
               prove
               how
               much
               a
               due
               liberty
               granted
               to
               them
               will
               conduce
               to
               the
               peace
               and
               safety
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               and
               what
               publick
               inconveniences
               will
               follow
               from
               the
               contrary
               .
            
             
               The
               first
               Reason
               shall
               be
               taken
               from
               the
               necessary
               connexion
               between
               Civil
               liberty
               ,
               and
               that
               which
               is
               Spiritual
               ;
               and
               therefore
               they
               that
               would
               devest
               any
               of
               their
               spirituall
               liberties
               ,
               do
               alarm
               them
               with
               just
               causes
               of
               fear
               about
               their
               losing
               civil
               liberties
               by
               the
               same
               hands
               .
            
             
             
               For
               ,
               first
               ,
               it
               must
               necessarily
               be
               presumed
               that
               such
               persons
               intend
               to
               be
               judges
               how
               far
               mens
               civil
               and
               spirituall
               liberties
               reach
               ,
               and
               what
               are
               the
               frontires
               of
               both
               .
               Nothing
               we
               see
               is
               more
               common
               among
               the
               Romish
               Priests
               ,
               then
               to
               pick
               the
               pockets
               of
               the
               people
               ,
               
                 in
                 ordine
                 ad
                 spiritualla
              
               .
               And
               't
               is
               most
               certain
               that
               he
               who
               doth
               impose
               any
               thing
               upon
               the
               people
               under
               the
               species
               of
               Religion
               ,
               would
               not
               leave
               them
               a
               power
               to
               judge
               whether
               it
               be
               in
               order
               to
               it
               or
               no.
               For
               if
               they
               are
               the
               Judges
               of
               it
               ,
               they
               will
               say
               that
               any
               thing
               in
               Religion
               which
               displeaseth
               them
               opposeth
               their
               civil
               liberty
               ,
               and
               so
               nothing
               at
               all
               will
               therein
               be
               enjoyned
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               those
               that
               take
               away
               from
               others
               their
               spirituall
               liberties
               ,
               shew
               that
               they
               can
               take
               away
               part
               of
               their
               civill
               at
               least
               ,
               or
               else
               the
               whole
               of
               them
               ,
               accordingly
               as
               they
               valued
               their
               spirituall
               liberty
               .
               If
               it
               be
               said
               that
               mens
               civil
               liberties
               are
               thought
               more
               important
               then
               their
               spirituall
               ,
               
               yet
               it
               may
               be
               replyed
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               thoughts
               of
               very
               many
               men
               their
               spirituall
               liberties
               are
               as
               considerable
               as
               part
               of
               their
               civill
               :
               So
               that
               the
               totall
               destroyers
               of
               spirituall
               liberty
               shew
               that
               part
               of
               the
               civill
               is
               at
               their
               mercy
               .
               And
               if
               they
               are
               able
               to
               take
               away
               one
               part
               of
               mens
               civill
               liberties
               ,
               they
               are
               by
               that
               means
               in
               a
               better
               capacity
               to
               take
               away
               another
               ;
               just
               as
               he
               that
               is
               able
               to
               take
               away
               one
               limb
               from
               a
               mans
               body
               ,
               is
               the
               more
               able
               to
               take
               away
               another
               ,
               because
               by
               the
               losse
               of
               that
               a
               man
               hath
               the
               less
               strength
               to
               defend
               himself
               against
               a
               further
               assault
               .
            
             
               But
               although
               in
               some
               parts
               of
               the
               World
               men
               have
               not
               the
               same
               high
               esteem
               for
               spirituall
               liberty
               as
               for
               civil
               ,
               just
               as
               the
               par
               or
               proportion
               of
               Silver
               to
               Gold
               in
               severall
               Countries
               doth
               differ
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               affirm'd
               that
               in
               this
               Nation
               generally
               they
               have
               .
               'T
               is
               true
               that
               broken-fortun'd
               men
               do
               not
               value
               civil
               liberty
               ,
               nor
               men
               of
               debauch'd
               Consciences
               spirituall
               ;
               but
               neither
               of
               
               these
               qualifications
               hath
               produced
               a
               generall
               undervaluing
               of
               either
               sort
               of
               liberty
               among
               us
               .
               As
               to
               what
               may
               be
               objected
               concerning
               some
               Popish
               Countries
               ,
               as
               Venice
               ,
               &c.
               where
               they
               have
               not
               a
               proportion
               of
               esteem
               for
               spirituall
               liberty
               equall
               to
               their
               civil
               ;
               I
               answer
               ,
               that
               their
               Religion
               obligeth
               them
               to
               perform
               a
               servile
               obedience
               to
               the
               Bishop
               of
               Rome
               in
               things
               sacred
               ,
               and
               they
               looking
               on
               him
               as
               infallible
               ,
               have
               no
               reason
               to
               prize
               a
               liberty
               of
               not
               obeying
               him
               :
               Yet
               even
               in
               those
               places
               obedience
               to
               the
               Roman
               Catholick
               Religion
               is
               not
               maintain'd
               by
               the
               severe
               Discipline
               of
               an
               Inquisition
               .
               The
               policy
               of
               the
               French
               Nation
               is
               in
               this
               respect
               exactly
               good
               ,
               the
               liberty
               of
               the
               Gallican
               Church
               being
               so
               cautiously
               asserted
               in
               order
               to
               the
               liberty
               of
               the
               Gallican
               Kingdom
               ,
               where
               their
               Courts
               of
               Parliament
               in
               case
               of
               Appeals
               do
               declare
               void
               and
               null
               the
               Popes
               Bulls
               and
               Excommunications
               ;
               and
               forbid
               the
               execution
               of
               them
               when
               they
               are
               found
               contrary
               to
               the
               
               liberty
               of
               the
               French
               Church
               ,
               and
               the
               Kings
               Prerogative
               .
               Nor
               without
               cause
               were
               the
               severall
               European
               Princes
               jealous
               of
               the
               Popes
               designs
               to
               invade
               their
               civil
               liberties
               ,
               when
               ,
               as
               Mr.
               Selden
               observes
               in
               his
               
                 Dissertatio
                 ad
                 Fletam
                 ,
                 Innocent
              
               the
               second
               being
               very
               earnest
               with
               them
               to
               admit
               the
               Canon
               Law
               into
               their
               Territories
               ,
               they
               received
               the
               Civil
               Law
               ,
               to
               keep
               out
               the
               Canon
               .
            
             
               In
               which
               Law
               the
               Bishops
               of
               Rome
               have
               severall
               Titles
               ,
               
                 De
                 emptione
                 &
                 venditione
                 ,
                 De
                 locato
                 &
                 conducto
                 ,
              
               and
               severall
               other
               Titles
               that
               concern
               Temporall
               affaires
               between
               man
               and
               man.
               
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               they
               engage
               themselves
               to
               be
               in
               readiness
               by
               Temporall
               power
               to
               maintain
               their
               conquests
               over
               mens
               spiritual
               liberties
               :
               For
               he
               that
               takes
               away
               a
               feather
               out
               of
               a
               mans
               hat
               ,
               is
               obliged
               in
               interest
               to
               take
               away
               his
               sword
               from
               his
               side
               .
               If
               it
               be
               said
               that
               a
               man
               may
               think
               himself
               bound
               in
               Conscience
               to
               oppresse
               people
               in
               spiritual
               
               things
               ,
               but
               not
               in
               civil
               ;
               I
               answer
               ,
               most
               certainly
               then
               his
               Conscience
               will
               lead
               him
               to
               put
               them
               out
               of
               a
               condition
               to
               assert
               their
               spiritual
               liberties
               so
               opprest
               .
               It
               is
               with
               restraining
               the
               freedom
               of
               Conscience
               as
               the
               denying
               a
               
                 mare
                 liberum
              
               to
               neigbouring
               nations
               ,
               which
               any
               Prince
               that
               doth
               must
               not
               trust
               to
               prescription
               of
               long
               time
               ,
               or
               imaginary
               lines
               in
               the
               heavens
               whereby
               the
               compasse
               of
               his
               dominion
               of
               the
               Sea
               may
               be
               determined
               ,
               but
               to
               powerfull
               Fleets
               .
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               they
               give
               men
               just
               cause
               to
               think
               that
               they
               
                 will
                 be
              
               willing
               to
               invade
               their
               civil
               liberties
               ,
               whenever
               their
               Consciences
               or
               their
               interests
               shall
               prompt
               them
               to
               it
               .
            
             
               From
               what
               hath
               been
               said
               in
               this
               first
               Reason
               about
               the
               connexion
               of
               civil
               and
               spiritual
               liberty
               ,
               and
               mens
               concernednesse
               in
               the
               valuation
               of
               both
               ,
               I
               shall
               occasionally
               affirm
               ,
               that
               the
               next
               best
               way
               to
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               for
               the
               preservation
               of
               the
               publick
               peace
               of
               a
               Country
               ,
               where
               spirituall
               
               liberty
               is
               regarded
               in
               any
               high
               measure
               by
               the
               people
               ,
               is
               an
               Inquisition
               .
               But
               he
               hath
               much
               to
               learn
               in
               Politicks
               ,
               who
               thinks
               that
               an
               Inquisition
               is
               practicable
               among
               us
               as
               't
               is
               in
               Spain
               ,
               where
               one
               Religion
               hath
               had
               quiet
               possession
               in
               the
               Countrey
               so
               many
               yeares
               .
            
             
               The
               second
               Reason
               to
               prove
               that
               the
               Peace
               and
               Safety
               of
               the
               Nation
               will
               be
               very
               considerably
               advanced
               by
               the
               allowance
               of
               freedom
               to
               mens
               Consciences
               ,
               shall
               be
               this
               ;
            
             
               As
               long
               as
               there
               is
               such
               a
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               granted
               ,
               't
               is
               hardly
               possible
               for
               any
               civil
               Wars
               to
               happen
               on
               the
               account
               of
               Religion
               ,
               which
               for
               want
               of
               this
               freedom
               may
               .
               If
               there
               are
               but
               two
               parties
               in
               a
               Nation
               that
               differ
               from
               one
               another
               in
               Religion
               ,
               't
               is
               not
               unlikely
               but
               that
               a
               civil
               War
               may
               arise
               on
               the
               account
               of
               Religion
               ,
               though
               the
               one
               doth
               tolerate
               the
               other
               ;
               because
               either
               of
               them
               that
               thinks
               its
               share
               in
               the
               chief
               Magistrates
               savour
               least
               ,
               may
               for
               that
               reason
               
               attempt
               a
               forcible
               suppression
               of
               the
               other
               :
               But
               any
               such
               War
               can
               hardly
               be
               where
               the
               parties
               differing
               in
               Religion
               are
               many
               ;
               For
               they
               are
               not
               likely
               to
               know
               the
               exact
               strength
               of
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               their
               severall
               animosities
               will
               keep
               them
               from
               joyning
               together
               against
               any
               one
               that
               doth
               not
               invade
               their
               liberty
               in
               generall
               .
               Nothing
               but
               extreme
               necessity
               can
               bring
               them
               to
               meet
               amicably
               and
               consult
               together
               .
               For
               the
               nearer
               they
               seem
               to
               one
               another
               in
               opinion
               ,
               the
               sharper
               their
               mutuall
               hatreds
               are
               ;
               just
               as
               people
               of
               severall
               Countreys
               that
               live
               in
               the
               frontires
               of
               each
               ,
               do
               hate
               one
               another
               with
               a
               greater
               vehemence
               then
               those
               more
               remotely
               situated
               do
               .
            
             
               Besides
               ,
               't
               is
               probable
               that
               if
               any
               one
               of
               the
               parties
               tolerated
               should
               go
               about
               to
               make
               it self
               uppermost
               ,
               (
               which
               design
               only
               could
               make
               it
               fly
               out
               into
               a
               civil
               War
               )
               the
               rest
               would
               immediately
               Joyne
               to
               suppresse
               it
               .
               For
               they
               are
               not
               sure
               they
               shall
               have
               that
               from
               the
               conquering
               party
               ,
               after
               all
               the
               horrors
               
               of
               War
               ,
               which
               they
               already
               possesse
               ,
               to
               wit
               ,
               a
               fair
               liberty
               .
               Which
               if
               it
               be
               competently
               allow'd
               to
               the
               severall
               parties
               ,
               seditious
               persons
               at
               home
               ,
               and
               the
               Ministers
               of
               State
               to
               our
               enemies
               abroad
               ,
               will
               be
               deprived
               of
               their
               old
               benefit
               from
               our
               Divisions
               in
               Religion
               ,
               which
               they
               accidentally
               made
               use
               of
               as
               a
               handle
               to
               draw
               us
               into
               civil
               War
               ;
               just
               as
               by
               the
               Spanish
               Counsells
               formerly
               the
               Kings
               of
               France
               have
               been
               excited
               to
               persecute
               the
               Huguenots
               sometimes
               ,
               and
               the
               Huguenots
               been
               fed
               with
               money
               and
               advice
               to
               resist
               their
               persecutors
               ;
               and
               as
               in
               like
               manner
               Richelieu
               is
               thought
               to
               have
               encouraged
               the
               last
               Arch-bishop
               of
               Canterbury
               to
               increase
               his
               severity
               toward
               the
               Puritans
               ,
               and
               to
               have
               animated
               the
               Scotch
               and
               
                 English
                 Puritans
              
               to
               do
               as
               they
               did
               .
            
             
               I
               grant
               that
               in
               respect
               of
               forreign
               invasion
               it
               is
               somewhat
               dangerous
               for
               a
               Prince
               to
               tolerate
               any
               Religion
               in
               His
               Countrey
               that
               his
               neighbours
               are
               of
               ,
               and
               those
               potent
               ,
               and
               likely
               to
               invade
               
               him
               .
               For
               then
               such
               an
               invader
               would
               expect
               assistance
               from
               those
               of
               his
               opinion
               in
               Religion
               ,
               who
               would
               promise
               to
               themselves
               the
               advantage
               of
               having
               their
               opinions
               the
               Paramount
               State-Religion
               upon
               the
               invaders
               success
               .
            
             
               And
               for
               this
               reason
               we
               are
               obliged
               to
               be
               wary
               in
               the
               toleration
               we
               allow
               Papists
               .
               We
               have
               no
               reason
               to
               be
               afraid
               of
               the
               toleration
               of
               Calvinists
               ,
               because
               the
               united
               Provinces
               in
               the
               Low
               Countries
               are
               of
               that
               perswasion
               ,
               for
               they
               are
               not
               a
               Common-wealth
               of
               increase
               by
               Armes
               but
               Trade
               .
               Nor
               would
               they
               take
               our
               Countrey
               if
               we
               should
               offer
               it
               them
               ,
               for
               they
               would
               not
               know
               what
               to
               do
               with
               it
               ,
               as
               their
               affaires
               at
               present
               are
               ,
               and
               likely
               to
               be
               .
            
             
               In
               this
               second
               reason
               I
               consider
               ,
               that
               as
               there
               is
               hardly
               a
               possibility
               of
               a
               civill
               War
               arising
               on
               the
               account
               of
               Religion
               ,
               if
               there
               be
               a
               fair
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               established
               ;
               so
               there
               is
               danger
               in
               this
               particular
               from
               the
               severall
               parties
               if
               there
               be
               no
               such
               liberty
               .
               
               I
               grant
               that
               't
               is
               the
               principle
               and
               practice
               of
               some
               of
               these
               parties
               ,
               and
               especially
               those
               call'd
               Presbyterian
               (
               by
               far
               the
               most
               considerable
               of
               them
               )
               to
               suffer
               for
               Religion
               ,
               rather
               then
               to
               resist
               meerly
               for
               it
               ;
               and
               therefore
               we
               have
               no
               reason
               to
               charge
               them
               with
               taking
               up
               of
               Armes
               purely
               for
               Religion
               .
               But
               yet
               I
               think
               ,
               had
               it
               not
               been
               for
               Religions
               sake
               ,
               and
               for
               the
               greater
               freedom
               of
               their
               Consciences
               ,
               they
               would
               not
               formerly
               have
               pretended
               that
               necessity
               or
               lawfulnesse
               to
               take
               up
               Arms
               on
               a
               civil
               account
               as
               they
               did
               .
               For
               though
               their
               right
               in
               civil
               things
               was
               ,
               as
               they
               pretended
               ,
               the
               Constituent
               cause
               of
               the
               War
               ,
               yet
               Religion
               was
               the
               impulsive
               ,
               or
               that
               which
               inclined
               them
               to
               make
               use
               of
               the
               other
               ;
               of
               which
               though
               they
               thought
               lawfully
               they
               could
               ,
               yet
               but
               for
               this
               impulsive
               cause
               they
               would
               not
               have
               made
               use
               .
               And
               truly
               any
               man
               that
               considers
               the
               addictednesse
               of
               the
               English
               Nation
               to
               Religion
               in
               generall
               ,
               will
               not
               wonder
               at
               mens
               being
               stimulated
               thereby
               to
               
               do
               what
               in
               civill
               things
               they
               think
               they
               lawfully
               may
               .
               Of
               this
               propension
               of
               the
               English
               not
               onely
               to
               Religion
               ,
               but
               vehemence
               in
               it
               ,
               
               Barclay
               doth
               well
               take
               notice
               ,
               who
               saith
               of
               them
               ,
               
                 Nec
                 quicquam
                 in
                 numinis
                 cultu
                 modicum
                 possunt
              
               ;
               and
               afterward
               speaking
               how
               ridiculously
               narrow
               in
               their
               principles
               our
               severall
               Sects
               were
               ,
               saith
               ,
               they
               thought
               
                 unos
                 se
                 coelestium
                 rerum
                 participes
                 ,
                 exortes
                 caeteros
                 omnes
                 esse
                 .
              
               i.
               e.
               Nor
               can
               they
               in
               the
               worship
               of
               God
               do
               any
               thing
               without
               excesse
               ,
               they
               think
               themselves
               the
               only
               sharers
               of
               Heavenly
               things
               ,
               and
               all
               other
               persons
               to
               be
               no
               way
               concern'd
               in
               partaking
               of
               them
               .
               Nor
               is
               the
               strong
               and
               passionate
               inclination
               of
               this
               Kingdom
               to
               Religion
               ,
               a
               humour
               bred
               lately
               among
               us
               since
               the
               introduction
               of
               Protestancy
               ;
               for
               the
               greatest
               part
               of
               the
               Decretal
               Epistles
               in
               the
               books
               of
               the
               Canon-Law
               were
               sent
               to
               the
               English
               as
               rescripts
               occasioned
               by
               their
               addresses
               to
               the
               Pope
               ,
               for
               his
               determination
               in
               several
               
               matters
               of
               Religion
               .
               Besides
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               attributed
               much
               to
               the
               efficacy
               of
               Religion
               in
               general
               among
               us
               ,
               that
               no
               Epidemical
               vice
               is
               charged
               upon
               our
               Nation
               ,
               as
               upon
               others
               .
            
             
               But
               that
               which
               is
               most
               important
               in
               the
               confirmation
               of
               the
               tendency
               that
               the
               liberty
               propounded
               hath
               to
               promote
               the
               safety
               and
               peace
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               is
               the
               consideration
               of
               the
               prevalent
               interest
               these
               severall
               parties
               have
               therein
               ,
               and
               consequently
               ability
               to
               do
               harm
               or
               good
               ;
               which
               I
               shall
               make
               use
               of
               as
               a
               THIRD
               REASON
               of
               the
               above-mentioned
               assertion
               .
            
             
               Now
               here
               I
               shall
               begin
               with
               the
               sort
               of
               Divines
               call'd
               Presbyterian
               ,
               (
               though
               more
               truly
               meriting
               to
               be
               styled
               those
               that
               are
               for
               moderate
               Episcopacy
               )
               and
               shall
               consider
               their
               interest
               and
               strength
               .
            
             
               And
               first
               ,
               the
               whole
               Kingdom
               of
               Scotland
               is
               united
               in
               a
               solemn
               League
               with
               them
               :
               Nor
               is
               the
               federall
               union
               likely
               to
               be
               dissolved
               between
               that
               Nation
               and
               them
               ,
               because
               they
               have
               
               submitted
               to
               the
               form
               of
               Primitive
               Episcopacy
               described
               by
               the
               Bishop
               of
               Armagh
               ,
               their
               Covenant
               binding
               them
               only
               against
               that
               high
               Prelacy
               formerly
               in
               use
               among
               us
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               the
               way
               of
               their
               preaching
               being
               very
               practicall
               ,
               and
               accompanied
               with
               zeal
               and
               vehemence
               ,
               doth
               leave
               generally
               deep
               impressions
               on
               the
               minds
               of
               men
               ,
               and
               consequently
               creates
               among
               the
               people
               a
               reverentiall
               esteem
               for
               their
               persons
               .
               And
               indeed
               so
               many
               Preachers
               as
               there
               are
               of
               the
               moderate
               Episcopall
               or
               Presbyterian
               way
               ,
               there
               are
               so
               many
               Orators
               ,
               whereby
               they
               influence
               the
               people
               more
               then
               if
               they
               were
               so
               many
               Postillers
               .
               Every
               one
               of
               them
               almost
               doth
               ,
               as
               Tully
               saith
               ,
               
                 aculeos
                 relinquere
                 in
                 animis
                 audientium
              
               .
               Their
               way
               of
               Preaching
               is
               not
               whining
               ,
               like
               that
               of
               the
               Sectaries
               ;
               and
               though
               far
               from
               being
               in
               most
               of
               them
               conformable
               to
               the
               Rules
               of
               Rhetorick
               ,
               yet
               I
               count
               it
               suitable
               to
               Oratory
               ,
               because
               it
               doth
               perswade
               .
               'T
               is
               beyond
               dispute
               ,
               that
               
               this
               way
               of
               Puritanicall
               preaching
               hath
               insinuated
               it self
               much
               into
               the
               affections
               of
               many
               ,
               by
               that
               civility
               and
               emendation
               of
               manners
               it
               hath
               proselyted
               them
               into
               ,
               and
               so
               hath
               obtain'd
               respect
               both
               from
               them
               and
               their
               relations
               .
               Nor
               can
               it
               but
               be
               supposed
               that
               the
               common
               sort
               of
               men
               ,
               I
               mean
               such
               as
               live
               by
               Trade
               ,
               whose
               being
               either
               rich
               or
               beggers
               depends
               much
               on
               the
               honesty
               of
               their
               servants
               ,
               should
               like
               that
               sort
               of
               Preachers
               best
               ,
               who
               are
               most
               passionate
               and
               loud
               against
               Vice
               ,
               and
               the
               appearances
               of
               it
               .
               And
               the
               impressions
               of
               this
               practicall
               way
               of
               Preaching
               are
               the
               more
               permanent
               in
               their
               hearers
               ,
               because
               these
               Preachers
               do
               propagate
               the
               belief
               of
               the
               morality
               of
               the
               Sabbath
               ,
               and
               do
               oblige
               their
               hearers
               to
               discourse
               on
               that
               day
               chiefly
               of
               Religious
               things
               ,
               and
               to
               pass
               their
               time
               in
               Prayer
               ,
               and
               Repetition
               of
               the
               Sermons
               then
               preach'd
               .
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               they
               are
               highly
               esteem'd
               by
               a
               great
               part
               of
               the
               people
               for
               the
               strictnesse
               and
               austority
               of
               their
               lives
               .
               
               And
               by
               nothing
               more
               then
               unstain'd
               lives
               can
               Ministers
               attract
               reverence
               for
               their
               persons
               and
               Doctrines
               .
            
             
               How
               much
               mens
               affections
               cool
               toward
               a
               Religion
               many
               of
               the
               Teachers
               whereof
               are
               debauch'd
               ,
               appeares
               by
               that
               common
               observation
               of
               Travellers
               ,
               that
               the
               people
               who
               live
               at
               a
               great
               distance
               from
               Rome
               are
               more
               superstitious
               then
               those
               who
               live
               in
               Rome
               ,
               where
               they
               see
               so
               much
               prophanenesse
               among
               the
               Grandees
               of
               the
               Church
               .
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               being
               for
               the
               most
               part
               of
               them
               not
               much
               immerst
               in
               the
               Studies
               of
               School-Divinity
               ,
               and
               indeed
               more
               Polite
               Literature
               ,
               as
               Philology
               ,
               &c.
               they
               are
               enabled
               to
               preach
               oftner
               ,
               and
               have
               more
               Sermons
               of
               Practicall
               Divinity
               to
               Print
               ,
               then
               the
               Reverend
               Divines
               of
               the
               old
               Hierarchy
               ;
               and
               by
               this
               means
               to
               adde
               to
               their
               repute
               and
               credit
               with
               the
               people
               .
            
             
               Fifthly
               ,
               they
               converse
               more
               generally
               with
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               with
               the
               common
               people
               ,
               then
               the
               Reverend
               
               Divines
               that
               are
               for
               the
               former
               Prelacy
               do
               .
               And
               indeed
               men
               that
               are
               resolved
               Students
               ,
               and
               habitually
               Bookish
               ,
               have
               regrets
               against
               conversation
               ,
               especially
               that
               of
               those
               men
               they
               can
               gain
               no
               knowledg
               by
               .
               Nor
               indeed
               is
               the
               company
               of
               illiterate
               Lay-men
               ordinarily
               acceptable
               to
               any
               Scholars
               ,
               but
               such
               as
               pursue
               knowledg
               in
               mechanicks
               .
               Now
               so
               great
               and
               generall
               is
               the
               conversation
               of
               the
               Divines
               call'd
               Presbyterian
               with
               one
               another
               ,
               that
               not
               one
               of
               them
               can
               come
               to
               live
               in
               any
               Countrey
               ,
               but
               in
               a
               few
               weeks
               is
               known
               to
               all
               the
               Ministers
               of
               that
               party
               there
               ,
               whom
               he
               meets
               at
               Lectures
               ,
               or
               publick
               Fasts
               .
               On
               the
               other
               side
               ,
               it
               is
               usuall
               for
               the
               Divines
               of
               the
               former
               Prelatical
               perswasion
               ,
               to
               admit
               only
               those
               to
               a
               freedom
               of
               converse
               with
               them
               that
               are
               in
               Ecclesiastical
               or
               Civil
               Dignity
               equal
               to
               them
               .
               Moreover
               ,
               the
               Divines
               call'd
               Presbyterian
               do
               more
               then
               the
               others
               converse
               with
               their
               hearers
               ,
               and
               by
               this
               means
               have
               the
               interest
               of
               Confessors
               among
               Lay-people
               ,
               
               from
               whom
               they
               hear
               related
               the
               most
               secret
               passages
               of
               their
               Lives
               and
               Consciences
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               spiritual
               Maladies
               and
               Desertions
               they
               languish
               under
               .
            
             
               And
               here
               it
               may
               be
               observ'd
               how
               the
               non-conforming
               Divines
               were
               heretofore
               necessarily
               more
               then
               the
               other
               obliged
               to
               be
               much
               in
               the
               company
               of
               their
               Lay-hearers
               ;
               for
               by
               being
               so
               ,
               most
               of
               them
               got
               those
               Church-preferments
               they
               had
               :
               Their
               opinions
               causing
               them
               to
               be
               put
               by
               from
               Fellowships
               of
               Colledges
               in
               the
               Universities
               ,
               they
               betook
               themselves
               for
               shelter
               to
               the
               Lay-Puritans
               in
               several
               parts
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               and
               so
               compass'd
               the
               being
               Lecturers
               in
               Corporations
               and
               Market-Townes
               .
               And
               hereby
               they
               became
               of
               more
               active
               tempers
               ,
               saw
               more
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               were
               more
               harden'd
               ,
               either
               for
               the
               resisting
               what
               troubles
               they
               could
               ,
               and
               bearing
               what
               they
               could
               not
               resist
               ,
               then
               others
               that
               in
               quest
               of
               knowledg
               and
               the
               highest
               dignities
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               had
               
               been
               long
               in
               Universities
               accustom'd
               to
               private
               and
               sedentary
               lives
               .
            
             
               Sixthly
               ,
               by
               their
               dis-esteem
               of
               Ceremonies
               and
               external
               pomp
               in
               the
               Worship
               of
               God
               ,
               they
               are
               the
               more
               endear'd
               to
               Corporations
               ,
               and
               the
               greater
               part
               of
               persons
               engaged
               in
               Trade
               and
               Traffick
               ,
               who
               hate
               Ceremonies
               in
               generall
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               forms
               and
               set
               behaviours
               that
               are
               not
               necessary
               ,
               as
               being
               not
               at
               leisure
               for
               them
               ,
               and
               as
               they
               are
               expenceful
               ,
               and
               as
               contrary
               to
               their
               Genius
               and
               Education
               .
               And
               indeed
               men
               that
               live
               amidst
               the
               continual
               dispatches
               of
               business
               in
               a
               way
               of
               Trade
               ,
               do
               naturally
               grow
               into
               a
               hatred
               of
               what
               doth
               unnecessarily
               take
               up
               time
               .
               We
               see
               therefore
               in
               Holland
               ,
               that
               Funerals
               (
               the
               last
               solemn
               Offices
               the
               dead
               can
               have
               paid
               them
               ,
               and
               of
               which
               the
               observation
               in
               less
               Trading
               Countries
               doth
               with
               its
               Ceremonies
               devoure
               so
               much
               time
               )
               are
               there
               to
               be
               celebrated
               before
               two
               i'
               th'
               afternoon
               ;
               and
               for
               every
               houre
               that
               a
               Herse
               is
               kept
               in
               a
               house
               after
               that
               time
               ,
               somewhat
               
               what
               is
               paid
               to
               the
               State.
               Nor
               can
               it
               otherwise
               be
               ,
               but
               that
               the
               same
               persons
               who
               nauseate
               Ceremonies
               in
               Civil
               things
               ,
               will
               loath
               them
               likewise
               in
               Religious
               :
               Just
               as
               a
               man
               that
               hath
               an
               antipathy
               against
               Muskadine
               in
               his
               Parlour
               ,
               cannot
               love
               it
               at
               the
               Sacrament
               .
            
             
               The
               Fathers
               ,
               upon
               whose
               writings
               those
               that
               would
               now
               recommend
               Ceremonies
               to
               the
               Church
               do
               build
               their
               assertions
               of
               them
               ,
               were
               such
               as
               did
               live
               in
               the
               Southern
               parts
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               where
               Ceremonies
               are
               more
               lov'd
               in
               Civil
               and
               Religious
               things
               ,
               then
               by
               us
               Northern
               people
               they
               are
               .
               And
               besides
               ,
               the
               people
               there
               being
               of
               sharper
               wits
               then
               among
               us
               they
               are
               ,
               the
               Artifices
               of
               Ceremonies
               are
               requisite
               to
               raise
               mists
               before
               their
               understanding
               faculties
               ,
               and
               to
               detain
               them
               from
               as
               much
               knowledg
               as
               they
               can
               by
               admiration
               ,
               lest
               they
               should
               become
               the
               less
               obedient
               by
               being
               the
               more
               knowing
               .
               The
               eminency
               of
               the
               Southern
               wits
               above
               the
               Northern
               appeares
               to
               us
               from
               the
               constant
               
               and
               just
               complaints
               of
               Northern
               Nations
               ,
               that
               the
               Southern
               have
               still
               over-reach'd
               them
               in
               Treaties
               ,
               after
               they
               had
               defeated
               their
               Armies
               in
               the
               field
               .
               And
               what
               I
               here
               observe
               concerning
               these
               Nations
               ,
               is
               attested
               by
               Bodin
               in
               his
               fifth
               Book
               
                 De
                 Republicâ
              
               :
               Where
               he
               shews
               what
               his
               observation
               of
               the
               Genius
               and
               subtle
               understandings
               of
               Southern
               people
               was
               ,
               and
               how
               it
               was
               fit
               they
               should
               be
               awed
               into
               the
               doing
               of
               things
               by
               a
               solemn
               and
               pompous
               managery
               of
               Religion
               .
            
             
               'T
               is
               further
               observable
               concerning
               Northern
               Nations
               ,
               that
               they
               are
               more
               addicted
               to
               Trade
               then
               Southern
               ;
               which
               they
               are
               necessitated
               to
               be
               ,
               because
               the
               things
               that
               of
               their
               own
               accord
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               without
               industry
               ,
               grow
               out
               of
               the
               Earth
               ,
               are
               fewer
               among
               them
               then
               Southern
               ;
               and
               because
               they
               are
               more
               populous
               :
               and
               while
               they
               are
               more
               then
               the
               other
               Nations
               addicted
               to
               Trade
               ,
               they
               must
               needs
               be
               less
               addicted
               to
               Ceremonies
               .
               The
               Hollanders
               may
               serve
               as
               an
               instance
               to
               
               evince
               the
               truth
               of
               this
               ,
               who
               having
               scarce
               any
               native
               commodities
               ,
               &
               being
               a
               populous
               Countrey
               ,
               for
               their
               quantity
               of
               ground
               ,
               and
               being
               forced
               to
               advance
               Trade
               ,
               can
               hardly
               abstain
               from
               Markets
               on
               the
               Lords
               Day
               ,
               and
               do
               account
               it
               a
               piece
               of
               Devotion
               to
               cover
               their
               Wares
               in
               Sermon
               time
               .
               Much
               less
               could
               they
               ,
               or
               indeed
               any
               Trading
               Countrey
               ,
               admit
               so
               many
               Holy-days
               as
               our
               Church
               of
               England
               did
               abound
               with
               .
               The
               Lutheran
               Religion
               being
               profest
               chiefly
               in
               Countries
               that
               subsist
               by
               Trade
               ,
               though
               it
               owns
               an
               Episcopall
               form
               of
               Church-Government
               ,
               hath
               annex'd
               to
               it
               but
               few
               Ceremonies
               ;
               and
               I
               think
               except
               bowing
               at
               the
               name
               of
               Iesus
               ,
               and
               standing
               up
               at
               the
               Creed
               ,
               none
               considerable
               .
               Nor
               are
               there
               in
               any
               Church
               of
               Calvin's
               perswasion
               Responsalls
               to
               be
               used
               by
               the
               people
               in
               their
               Liturgies
               ,
               as
               in
               ours
               :
               Nor
               in
               the
               Lutheran
               Churches
               ,
               do
               any
               but
               the
               Chatechis'd
               boys
               mind
               them
               much
               .
               And
               in
               Holland
               the
               Lutheran
               Church
               doth
               admit
               men
               to
               the
               
               Sacrament
               without
               private
               Confession
               and
               Absolution
               ,
               which
               in
               less
               Trading
               places
               it
               strictly
               requires
               .
               While
               I
               am
               now
               inquiring
               into
               the
               disposition
               of
               Trading
               Countries
               ,
               I
               shall
               by
               the
               way
               observe
               ,
               that
               the
               interest
               which
               the
               Protestant
               Religion
               hath
               in
               them
               ,
               is
               its
               greatest
               visible
               security
               and
               defence
               .
               For
               though
               Princes
               of
               the
               Popish
               Religion
               do
               command
               a
               greater
               quantity
               of
               ground
               then
               Protestant
               Princes
               ,
               yet
               they
               have
               not
               an
               interest
               in
               Maritime
               Townes
               and
               Trading
               places
               equall
               to
               them
               .
               And
               and
               as
               the
               present
               State
               of
               Christendom
               is
               ,
               he
               that
               commands
               the
               Sea
               commands
               the
               shore
               ,
               and
               the
               Dominion
               of
               the
               Sea
               through
               Gods
               mercy
               is
               in
               Protestant
               hands
               .
               But
               to
               return
               from
               whence
               I
               digrest
               .
               If
               we
               reflect
               on
               those
               that
               did
               most
               love
               Ceremonies
               heretofore
               in
               our
               Nation
               ,
               we
               shall
               find
               them
               to
               have
               been
               persons
               of
               the
               greatest
               Rank
               and
               Quality
               among
               us
               ,
               who
               did
               affect
               Ceremonies
               in
               Civil
               things
               ;
               or
               of
               the
               poorest
               sort
               ,
               who
               did
               get
               their
               daily
               
               bread
               by
               the
               Charity
               of
               the
               other
               .
               The
               midling
               sort
               of
               men
               ,
               and
               especially
               the
               substantial
               Trades-men
               of
               Corporations
               ,
               did
               generally
               disgust
               them
               .
               So
               natural
               is
               it
               for
               men
               to
               paint
               God
               in
               colours
               suitable
               to
               their
               own
               fancies
               ,
               that
               I
               do
               not
               wonder
               at
               Trading
               persons
               who
               hate
               Ceremonies
               ,
               that
               they
               thus
               think
               God
               in
               respect
               of
               this
               hatred
               altogether
               such
               as
               themselves
               .
               And
               therefore
               Almighty
               God
               designing
               his
               Worship
               from
               the
               Jewish
               Church
               to
               be
               full
               of
               Ceremonies
               ,
               and
               such
               as
               were
               Typical
               of
               his
               Son
               ,
               did
               divert
               that
               Nation
               from
               the
               utmost
               promoting
               of
               Trade
               .
               To
               this
               end
               they
               were
               not
               planted
               ,
               except
               a
               few
               of
               them
               by
               the
               Sea-side
               ,
               but
               in
               In-land
               places
               ,
               and
               thereby
               were
               the
               better
               enabled
               to
               advance
               shepherdry
               ,
               and
               the
               multiplying
               of
               various
               kinds
               of
               Cattel
               in
               order
               to
               their
               Sacrifices
               .
               They
               were
               forbid
               to
               take
               use
               money
               of
               one
               another
               ,
               not
               that
               there
               was
               any
               reall
               evil
               or
               Injustice
               in
               Usury
               ,
               but
               that
               it
               would
               have
               drawn
               them
               on
               to
               the
               advancement
               
               of
               Trade
               ,
               and
               consequently
               have
               interrupted
               the
               course
               of
               their
               solemn
               Rites
               and
               Ceremonies
               :
               Religion
               would
               then
               have
               suffer'd
               by
               Trade
               ,
               whereas
               the
               contrary
               thing
               hath
               since
               happen'd
               from
               it
               .
               For
               beside
               those
               Vices
               that
               are
               concomitant
               of
               Idleness
               ,
               which
               Trade
               repels
               ,
               the
               increase
               of
               Navigation
               must
               necessarily
               propagate
               the
               knowledg
               of
               Christian
               Religion
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               humane
               Arts
               and
               Sciences
               .
               Thus
               ,
               
                 Multi
                 pertransibunt
                 ,
                 &
                 augebitur
                 Scientia
                 .
              
            
             
               If
               in
               opposition
               to
               what
               hath
               been
               said
               about
               Trading
               persons
               ,
               being
               generally
               disaffected
               to
               Ceremonies
               in
               Religion
               ;
               any
               shall
               urge
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               Popish
               Republicks
               Trade
               and
               Ceremonies
               are
               both
               us'd
               :
               It
               may
               be
               answer
               d
               ,
               that
               the
               many
               Ceremonies
               there
               are
               rather
               endured
               then
               loved
               ,
               and
               that
               if
               mens
               understandings
               were
               not
               there
               mis-guided
               by
               a
               belief
               of
               their
               being
               necessary
               to
               salvation
               ,
               the
               practice
               of
               them
               would
               quickly
               be
               abated
               ;
               just
               as
               we
               see
               the
               motion
               of
               a
               lock
               to
               be
               alter'd
               when
               
               the
               hand
               is
               removed
               that
               held
               back
               the
               spring
               .
               Let
               but
               the
               Protestant
               Religion
               get
               ground
               there
               ,
               and
               so
               consequently
               the
               Tributes
               of
               their
               time
               be
               no
               more
               demanded
               for
               their
               present
               Ceremonies
               ,
               and
               we
               shall
               soon
               find
               how
               unwilling
               they
               will
               be
               to
               pay
               them
               .
            
             
               I
               shall
               now
               briefly
               speak
               of
               the
               other
               parties
               ,
               as
               the
               Independents
               ,
               &c.
               and
               take
               notice
               of
               their
               considerableness
               ,
               and
               hopes
               of
               bidding
               fair
               for
               an
               interest
               in
               the
               hearts
               of
               any
               of
               the
               people
               .
            
             
               And
               here
               I
               shall
               observe
               ,
               that
               if
               these
               Sects
               had
               got
               no
               ground
               in
               the
               Nation
               ,
               that
               yet
               they
               want
               not
               their
               likelyhoods
               of
               doing
               it
               ;
               and
               that
               first
               by
               reason
               of
               the
               ready
               inclination
               of
               many
               among
               us
               to
               mutability
               ,
               in
               nothing
               more
               then
               their
               opinions
               about
               controverted
               things
               in
               Religion
               .
               For
               opinions
               held
               by
               the
               English
               are
               held
               by
               Islanders
               ;
               And
               therefore
               Bodin
               in
               his
               
                 Methodus
                 ad
                 facilem
                 historiarum
                 cognitionem
              
               ,
               and
               fifth
               chapter
               of
               it
               ,
               doth
               
               very
               judiciously
               shew
               how
               people
               are
               to
               be
               moderated
               by
               different
               Laws
               ,
               according
               to
               their
               Climates
               and
               Situations
               ,
               which
               he
               confirmes
               by
               mentioning
               the
               severall
               Vices
               and
               Vertues
               of
               Countries
               remotely
               distant
               from
               one
               another
               ;
               saying
               ,
               how
               that
               
                 Ventosa
                 loca
                 ferociores
                 homines
                 &
                 mobiliores
                 reddunt
                 ,
                 quieta
                 verò
                 humaniores
                 &
                 constantiores
                 .
              
               i.
               e.
               Countries
               disturb'd
               with
               frequent
               winds
               make
               men
               more
               fierce
               and
               mutable
               ;
               but
               Countries
               that
               are
               free
               from
               such
               ,
               do
               make
               men
               more
               civil
               and
               constant
               .
            
             
               And
               secondly
               ,
               because
               the
               Protestant
               Religion
               doth
               indemnifie
               us
               in
               the
               Court
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               for
               believing
               in
               matters
               of
               Religion
               according
               to
               the
               Dictates
               of
               our
               private
               Judgements
               ,
               or
               rather
               oblige
               us
               to
               it
               .
               Doubtless
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               not
               lawful
               for
               every
               man
               to
               be
               guided
               by
               his
               private
               judgement
               in
               things
               of
               Religion
               ,
               t'
               will
               be
               hardly
               possible
               to
               acquit
               our
               separation
               from
               the
               Romish
               Church
               from
               the
               guilt
               of
               schism
               .
               The
               Genius
               of
               the
               Protestant
               
               Religion
               doth
               make
               it
               as
               naturall
               to
               us
               to
               weigh
               and
               consider
               any
               notions
               ,
               though
               recommended
               to
               us
               by
               our
               Ministers
               ,
               as
               't
               is
               to
               tell
               money
               after
               our
               spiritual
               Fathers
               ,
               which
               we
               shall
               be
               as
               ready
               to
               do
               as
               after
               our
               naturall
               .
               Nor
               can
               the
               decisions
               of
               Synods
               and
               Generall
               Councils
               terminate
               our
               inquiries
               in
               Religion
               ,
               or
               keep
               single
               Divines
               from
               recommending
               notions
               
                 de
                 fide
              
               .
               And
               therefore
               as
               any
               Judge
               is
               concern'd
               to
               be
               wary
               how
               he
               gives
               sentence
               in
               a
               cause
               ,
               or
               inforceth
               the
               Execution
               of
               it
               ,
               when
               there
               lie
               appeales
               from
               his
               to
               severall
               other
               Judicatories
               ;
               so
               doth
               it
               likewise
               import
               Synods
               or
               Conventions
               of
               Divines
               to
               be
               cautious
               in
               their
               deciding
               matters
               of
               Faith
               ,
               since
               every
               such
               cause
               is
               to
               be
               carryed
               from
               their
               Bar
               to
               the
               examination
               of
               more
               then
               ten
               thousand
               Chancellours
               ,
               as
               many
               being
               Judges
               of
               the
               cause
               as
               there
               are
               rational
               men
               .
               It
               hath
               been
               long
               since
               observ'd
               by
               many
               ,
               that
               Christian
               Religion
               hath
               moderated
               the
               extremity
               of
               servitude
               as
               to
               
               civil
               things
               in
               the
               places
               where
               it
               hath
               been
               receiv'd
               .
               And
               certainly
               it
               is
               much
               more
               consonant
               to
               that
               Religion
               ,
               and
               especially
               that
               form
               of
               it
               which
               hath
               asserted
               its
               spirituall
               freedom
               from
               the
               impositions
               of
               others
               ,
               to
               allow
               spiritual
               liberty
               to
               others
               .
               Nor
               doth
               it
               seem
               worthy
               of
               Christ
               ,
               who
               hath
               left
               us
               a
               Religion
               full
               of
               Mysteries
               ,
               and
               not
               any
               visible
               Judge
               of
               them
               ,
               to
               have
               design'd
               about
               those
               any
               visible
               Executioners
               .
               If
               any
               man
               thinks
               otherwise
               let
               him
               say
               so
               .
               I
               might
               further
               shew
               how
               these
               Sects
               caresse
               the
               vulgar
               ,
               in
               giving
               the
               power
               of
               the
               keys
               to
               the
               people
               in
               their
               gather'd
               Churches
               ;
               and
               how
               likely
               't
               is
               that
               many
               busie
               men
               ,
               and
               of
               good
               natural
               parts
               ,
               who
               have
               not
               Learning
               enough
               to
               procure
               any
               good
               Church-preferment
               from
               the
               old
               or
               modern
               Episcopall
               men
               ,
               and
               it
               may
               be
               any
               such
               Learned
               men
               as
               have
               been
               repuls'd
               by
               them
               as
               to
               preferment
               ,
               will
               be
               gathering
               Churches
               .
            
             
               But
               this
               present
               inquiry
               concerning
               
               the
               interest
               the
               severall
               Sects
               among
               us
               have
               in
               the
               hearts
               of
               many
               ,
               needs
               no
               further
               prosecution
               .
               We
               find
               too
               many
               places
               swarming
               with
               them
               :
               And
               such
               is
               the
               peculiar
               temper
               and
               complexion
               of
               most
               people
               of
               these
               perswasions
               ,
               and
               the
               melancholy
               of
               them
               more
               fix'd
               and
               sharp
               then
               that
               of
               any
               other
               party
               ,
               that
               this
               concurring
               with
               Religion
               (
               of
               which
               I
               doubt
               not
               but
               very
               many
               of
               them
               have
               a
               true
               sense
               )
               will
               incline
               them
               to
               persist
               in
               their
               present
               practises
               .
               Of
               the
               heighth
               and
               setledness
               of
               these
               mens
               discontents
               we
               had
               experience
               ,
               in
               their
               voluntary
               removal
               out
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               carrying
               their
               Estates
               with
               them
               ,
               some
               to
               Holland
               ,
               and
               others
               to
               
                 New
                 England
              
               ;
               when
               the
               other
               more
               sagacious
               party
               of
               non-Conformists
               ,
               since
               call'd
               Presbyterians
               ,
               chose
               to
               weather
               out
               the
               storm
               at
               home
               ,
               and
               to
               get
               for
               themselves
               as
               good
               terms
               as
               they
               could
               .
            
             
               THE
               FOURTH
               REASON
               that
               I
               shall
               urge
               to
               prove
               how
               much
               the
               peace
               and
               security
               of
               the
               Nation
               will
               
               be
               advanc'd
               by
               the
               liberty
               propounded
               ,
               may
               be
               taken
               from
               the
               inclinations
               of
               Orders
               and
               Degrees
               of
               other
               men
               among
               us
               ,
               and
               such
               as
               are
               not
               much
               engaged
               in
               these
               parties
               ;
               who
               account
               it
               their
               interest
               to
               be
               free
               from
               any
               religious
               impositions
               of
               the
               Clergy
               ,
               and
               to
               have
               the
               power
               of
               Bishops
               so
               moderated
               ,
               as
               that
               they
               may
               not
               be
               able
               to
               make
               any
               suffer
               for
               not
               being
               of
               their
               opinions
               in
               lesser
               matters
               of
               Religion
               .
               And
               here
               I
               shall
               observe
               ,
               first
               ,
               how
               the
               Judges
               of
               the
               Land
               and
               the
               Lawyers
               generally
               have
               been
               ready
               to
               curb
               the
               excess
               of
               power
               in
               any
               Bishops
               .
               The
               Bishops
               judging
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               causes
               according
               to
               the
               Canon
               Law
               ,
               (
               a
               Law
               of
               which
               
                 Albericus
                 Gentilis
              
               ,
               that
               renown'd
               Civilian
               ,
               saith
               in
               the
               19th
               .
               chap.
               of
               his
               second
               Book
               
                 De
                 Nuptiis
                 ,
                 Sed
                 hoc
                 jus
                 brutumque
                 &
                 barbarum
                 sane
                 est
                 ,
                 natum
                 in
                 tenebris
                 seculorum
                 spississimis
                 ,
                 productum
                 a
                 monacho
                 tenebrione
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               )
               was
               an
               occasion
               of
               our
               Lawyers
               contrasts
               with
               them
               .
               And
               what
               may
               well
               create
               suspicions
               ,
               that
               
               the
               Bishops
               keeping
               of
               Courts
               as
               they
               did
               was
               not
               according
               to
               Law
               ,
               may
               be
               had
               from
               those
               words
               of
               the
               Arch-Bishop
               of
               Canterbury
               ,
               in
               his
               Epistle
               Dedicatory
               to
               the
               King
               before
               his
               Speech
               in
               the
               Star-chamber
               .
            
             
               
                 I
                 do
                 humbly
                 in
                 the
                 Churches
                 name
                 desire
                 of
              
               Your
               Majesty
               ,
               
                 that
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 resolv'd
                 by
                 all
                 the
                 Reverend
                 Iudges
                 of
              
               England
               ,
               
                 and
                 then
                 Publish
                 d
                 by
              
               Your
               Majesty
               ,
               
                 that
                 our
                 keeping
                 Courts
                 and
                 Issuing
                 Processe
                 in
                 our
                 own
                 Names
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 like
                 Exceptions
                 formerly
                 taken
                 ,
                 and
                 now
                 renew'd
                 ,
                 are
                 not
                 against
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 the
                 Realm
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
            
             
               And
               how
               ready
               the
               Lawyers
               have
               been
               to
               check
               the
               severity
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               Courts
               ,
               their
               innumerable
               prohibitions
               shew
               .
               In
               the
               dayes
               of
               Popery
               the
               Prelates
               could
               awe
               the
               Judges
               with
               Excommunication
               ,
               for
               such
               crimes
               as
               the
               Church
               call'd
               so
               .
               But
               how
               little
               of
               terrour
               the
               application
               of
               that
               censure
               hath
               had
               since
               ,
               appears
               from
               the
               frequent
               denouncing
               of
               it
               against
               the
               same
               man.
               And
               therefore
               
               that
               Learned
               Lawyer
               Judge
               Ienkins
               ,
               in
               the
               second
               part
               of
               his
               Works
               ,
               saith
               ,
               that
               for
               opposing
               the
               excesses
               of
               one
               of
               the
               Bishops
               ,
               he
               lay
               under
               three
               Excommunications
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               the
               substantial
               body
               of
               the
               Gentry
               heretofore
               was
               ,
               and
               is
               still
               likely
               to
               be
               for
               the
               moderating
               the
               exercise
               of
               Episcopal
               power
               ,
               and
               for
               the
               opposing
               its
               extravagance
               .
            
             
               The
               oath
               
                 ex
                 officio
              
               ,
               and
               commuting
               for
               penance
               ,
               and
               other
               such
               kind
               of
               things
               ,
               cannot
               but
               be
               thought
               troublesome
               to
               them
               .
               But
               that
               which
               I
               shall
               here
               chiefly
               take
               notice
               of
               ,
               is
               ,
               how
               a
               considerable
               part
               of
               the
               Gentry
               of
               England
               is
               grown
               more
               inquisitive
               in
               matters
               of
               Religion
               within
               these
               late
               yeares
               then
               formerly
               .
            
             
               Where
               this
               inquiring
               temper
               is
               not
               ,
               no
               opinion
               so
               horrid
               but
               may
               be
               universally
               believ'd
               .
               Thus
               the
               Turks
               may
               be
               induced
               to
               think
               that
               there
               is
               a
               Devil
               in
               the
               juyce
               of
               Grapes
               ,
               and
               the
               Papists
               that
               there
               may
               be
               a
               God
               therein
               .
               But
               when
               men
               are
               neither
               by
               
               Religion
               or
               temper
               restrain'd
               from
               searching
               into
               the
               causes
               of
               things
               ,
               they
               will
               not
               in
               civility
               to
               other
               mens
               understandings
               believe
               propositions
               to
               be
               true
               or
               false
               .
               And
               that
               which
               makes
               me
               (
               beside
               my
               own
               observation
               )
               to
               conclude
               that
               many
               of
               the
               Gentry
               of
               late
               are
               grown
               more
               inquisitive
               in
               Religious
               things
               then
               formerly
               ,
               and
               are
               likely
               so
               to
               continue
               ,
               is
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               more
               then
               heretofore
               inquisitive
               in
               civil
               things
               .
            
             
               As
               when
               the
               polish'd
               knowledg
               of
               Philologie
               had
               obtain'd
               a
               conquest
               over
               the
               insignificant
               Learning
               of
               the
               School-men
               ,
               no
               man
               was
               thought
               worthy
               the
               name
               of
               a
               Scholar
               but
               he
               who
               understood
               the
               Greek
               Tongue
               ;
               so
               since
               the
               late
               introduction
               of
               reall
               Learning
               into
               the
               World
               by
               
                 Galilaus
                 ,
                 Tycho
                 Brahe
              
               ,
               my
               Lord
               
                 Bacon
                 ,
                 Gassendus
                 ,
                 &
                 Des
                 Cartes
                 ,
              
               neither
               the
               knowledg
               of
               elegant
               words
               ,
               or
               nice
               Speculations
               ,
               wil
               yield
               any
               man
               the
               Reputation
               of
               being
               Learn'd
               that
               is
               altogether
               rude
               in
               Mathematicks
               ;
               which
               as
               they
               were
               
               formerly
               counted
               the
               Black
               Art
               ,
               and
               their
               Professors
               ,
               such
               as
               
                 Roger
                 Bacon
              
               ,
               Conjurers
               ,
               so
               may
               possibly
               School-Divinity
               and
               School-Divines
               hereafter
               be
               .
            
             
               Having
               thus
               asserted
               the
               present
               searching
               disposition
               of
               a
               great
               part
               of
               our
               ingenious
               Gentry
               ,
               it
               may
               well
               be
               hence
               inferr'd
               that
               liberty
               of
               conscience
               may
               be
               of
               high
               use
               to
               them
               ,
               and
               that
               if
               any
               Ecclesiasticall
               persons
               determine
               any
               thing
               contrary
               to
               their
               reasons
               ,
               they
               will
               not
               believe
               them
               ,
               or
               ,
               if
               against
               their
               safety
               ,
               not
               obey
               them
               .
               I
               think
               therefore
               by
               the
               way
               ,
               it
               was
               very
               politickly
               done
               of
               the
               Consistory
               of
               Cardinalls
               to
               imprison
               Galilaeus
               for
               affirming
               the
               motion
               of
               the
               Earth
               ,
               since
               that
               notion
               of
               his
               might
               fill
               the
               world
               with
               several
               new
               debates
               and
               inquiries
               ,
               and
               so
               Ignorance
               the
               mother
               of
               Devotion
               be
               destroy'd
               .
            
             
               To
               prevent
               which
               ,
               effectuall
               care
               is
               taken
               by
               the
               Iesuites
               ,
               as
               appeares
               by
               the
               instructions
               given
               them
               in
               the
               Directory
               of
               their
               order
               ,
               call'd
               
                 Directorium
                 
                 exercit
                 .
                 spirit
              
               .
               Ignatii
               Loyolae
               ,
               part
               2.
               p.
               172.
               
               Where
               there
               are
               ,
               
                 Regulae
                 aliquae
                 tenendae
                 ut
                 cum
                 Orthodoxâ
                 Ecclesiâ
                 sentiamus
                 .
              
               And
               the
               first
               Rule
               is
               ,
               
                 Vt
                 sublato
                 proprio
                 omni
                 judicio
                 ,
                 teneamus
                 semper
                 promptum
                 paratumque
                 animum
                 ad
                 obediendum
                 Catholicae
                 &
                 Hierarchicae
                 Ecclesiae
                 .
              
               It
               followes
               p.
               176.
               
               Reg.
               13.
               
               
                 Ut
                 Ecclesiae
                 conformes
                 simus
                 ,
                 si
                 quid
                 quod
                 oculis
                 nostris
                 appareat
                 album
                 nigrum
                 illa
                 definiverit
                 ,
                 debemus
                 itidem
                 quod
                 nigrum
                 sit
                 pronuntiare
                 .
              
               This
               is
               in
               the
               Edition
               of
               that
               Book
               at
               
                 Tholou
                 ,
                 Anno
              
               1593.
               and
               confirm'd
               by
               the
               Bull
               of
               Pope
               Paul
               the
               third
               .
            
             
               In
               short
               ,
               he
               that
               hath
               had
               but
               any
               conversation
               with
               that
               ingenious
               part
               of
               the
               Gentry
               who
               have
               concern'd
               themselves
               in
               the
               consideration
               of
               Church-Government
               ,
               cannot
               but
               take
               notice
               of
               these
               two
               assertions
               being
               in
               vogue
               among
               them
               ;
               which
               whether
               true
               or
               no
               't
               is
               not
               here
               pertinent
               to
               determine
               .
            
             
               The
               first
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               possible
               for
               Monarchy
               to
               subsist
               here
               without
               that
               
               high
               power
               our
               Bishops
               formerly
               had
               ,
               and
               so
               that
               Maxim
               ,
               
                 No
                 Bishop
                 no
                 King
              
               ,
               hath
               been
               disbelieved
               .
               This
               Maxim
               seems
               to
               them
               true
               concerning
               
                 Turky
                 ,
                 No
                 Mufti
                 no
                 Grand
                 Signior
                 ,
              
               because
               the
               Mufti
               can
               with
               the
               Screen
               of
               Religion
               as
               he
               pleases
               hide
               the
               ugliness
               of
               those
               actions
               the
               Grandeur
               of
               the
               Turkish
               Empire
               is
               supported
               by
               .
               But
               our
               Kings
               govern
               according
               to
               Law
               ,
               and
               so
               the
               Engin
               of
               Superstition
               is
               not
               here
               of
               use
               for
               the
               amusing
               people
               into
               slavery
               .
               I
               confess
               ,
               any
               party
               of
               men
               that
               wil
               not
               own
               the
               Kings
               Supremacy
               in
               Ecclesiastical
               causes
               as
               well
               as
               Civil
               ,
               is
               not
               fit
               to
               be
               allow'd
               as
               the
               State-Religion
               .
            
             
               But
               that
               Supremacy
               of
               the
               Kings
               in
               Ecclesiastical
               matters
               and
               in
               Civil
               ,
               is
               acknowledged
               by
               the
               Divines
               that
               are
               for
               the
               Lord
               Primates
               form
               of
               Episcopacy
               ,
               as
               much
               as
               by
               any
               other
               .
            
             
               A
               second
               assertion
               very
               much
               receiv'd
               among
               them
               is
               ,
               that
               no
               particular
               form
               of
               Church-Government
               is
               of
               Divine
               right
               .
               Of
               this
               opinion
               my
               Lord
               Bacon
               shews
               himself
               to
               be
               expresly
               
               in
               his
               Considerations
               touching
               the
               Edification
               and
               Pacification
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               :
               and
               so
               my
               Lord
               Falkland
               ,
               in
               one
               of
               his
               printed
               Speeches
               ,
               where
               speaking
               of
               Bishops
               ,
               he
               saith
               ,
               I
               do
               not
               believe
               them
               to
               be
               
                 jure
                 divino
              
               ,
               nay
               I
               believe
               them
               to
               be
               not
               
                 jure
                 divino
              
               ,
               but
               neither
               do
               I
               believe
               them
               to
               be
               
                 injuria
                 humana
              
               .
               So
               that
               it
               is
               no
               wonder
               that
               among
               our
               ordinary
               enquirers
               after
               knowledg
               this
               notion
               is
               believed
               ,
               which
               was
               so
               by
               those
               two
               incomparably
               Learned
               persons
               .
               And
               it
               may
               seem
               much
               more
               to
               gratifie
               the
               power
               of
               Princes
               ,
               then
               the
               Maxim
               ,
               
                 No
                 Bishop
                 no
                 King
              
               can
               do
               .
               The
               Author
               of
               the
               History
               of
               the
               Council
               of
               
                 Trent
                 ,
                 makes
                 mention
                 how
              
               Laymez
               ,
               
                 Generall
                 of
                 the
              
               Jesuits
               ,
               
                 spent
                 a
                 whole
                 Congregation
                 in
                 proving
                 that
                 Bishops
                 are
              
               jure
               pontificio
               ,
               
                 and
                 not
              
               jure
               divino
               ;
               
                 and
                 said
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 power
                 of
                 Iurisdiction
                 was
                 given
                 wholly
                 to
                 the
                 Bishop
                 of
              
               Rome
               ,
               
                 and
                 that
                 none
                 in
                 the
                 Church
                 hath
                 any
                 spark
                 of
                 it
                 but
                 from
                 him
                 .
                 'T
                 is
                 there
                 said
                 how
                 the
              
               Legats
               
                 were
                 of
                 opinion
                 that
                 the
                 question
                 of
                 the
                 
                 Divine
                 Right
                 of
                 Bishops
                 was
                 set
                 on
                 foot
                 to
                 gratifie
                 the
                 Authority
                 of
                 Bishops
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 importance
                 of
                 that
                 might
                 be
                 to
                 inferre
                 that
                 the
                 Keys
                 were
                 not
                 given
                 to
              
               Peter
               
                 onely
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Council
                 was
                 above
                 the
              
               Pope
               ,
               
                 and
                 the
                 Bishops
                 equall
                 to
                 him
                 ;
                 they
                 saw
                 that
                 the
                 Dignity
                 of
                 Cardinals
                 Superiour
                 to
                 Bishops
                 was
                 quite
                 taken
                 away
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Court
                 brought
                 to
                 nothing
                 ;
                 that
                 the
                 Preventions
                 and
                 Reservations
                 were
                 remov'd
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Collation
                 of
                 Benefices
                 drawn
                 to
                 the
                 Bishops
                 .
              
            
             
               Thus
               we
               see
               how
               apt
               men
               are
               to
               make
               use
               of
               Divine
               Right
               ,
               as
               fire
               ,
               and
               to
               count
               it
               a
               good
               servant
               ,
               but
               a
               bad
               Master
               .
               Nor
               are
               some
               without
               their
               feares
               ,
               that
               if
               Bishops
               were
               here
               publickly
               own'd
               as
               by
               Divine
               Right
               ,
               that
               the
               King
               would
               quickly
               lose
               his
               Power
               of
               nominating
               them
               ,
               and
               subjects
               the
               benefit
               of
               Appeals
               from
               their
               Courts
               to
               the
               King
               in
               Chancery
               .
               I
               acknowledg
               that
               a
               moderate
               Episcopacy
               is
               generally
               reputed
               of
               Church-Governments
               the
               best
               :
               But
               the
               believers
               of
               the
               Divine
               Right
               of
               it
               are
               of
               late
               years
               
               grown
               very
               few
               .
               For
               the
               skirmishes
               in
               the
               Presse
               and
               Pulpit
               concerning
               it
               ,
               between
               the
               Divines
               of
               severall
               parties
               ,
               have
               occasion'd
               two
               popular
               reasons
               to
               be
               brought
               against
               it
               ;
               which
               how
               valid
               they
               are
               ,
               is
               not
               my
               task
               to
               determine
               .
            
             
               The
               first
               is
               this
               ,
               That
               is
               not
               likely
               to
               be
               of
               Divine
               positive
               Right
               (
               which
               is
               the
               Right
               here
               meant
               )
               about
               which
               Christians
               equally
               considerable
               for
               strength
               of
               parts
               ,
               both
               naturall
               and
               acquired
               ,
               and
               for
               time
               spent
               in
               that
               part
               of
               Controversiall
               Divinity
               that
               concerns
               Church-Discipline
               ,
               and
               withall
               for
               holinesse
               in
               their
               lives
               ,
               do
               at
               last
               disagree
               .
            
             
               The
               second
               Reason
               drawn
               from
               the
               eager
               Disputes
               of
               Church-men
               about
               their
               severall
               Divine
               Rights
               is
               this
               ;
               Nothing
               really
               oppressive
               of
               Civil
               Societies
               ,
               or
               destructive
               of
               their
               welfare
               ,
               is
               of
               Divine
               Right
               :
               but
               so
               these
               forms
               of
               Church-Government
               have
               been
               by
               the
               opposite
               Divines
               of
               each
               Perswasion
               accused
               to
               be
               ,
               and
               likewise
               by
               other
               persons
               .
            
             
             
               It
               hath
               been
               further
               observ'd
               by
               many
               ,
               that
               though
               severall
               things
               were
               once
               confirm'd
               in
               the
               Church
               by
               an
               Apostolicall
               Precept
               or
               Practise
               ,
               they
               are
               like
               Lawes
               abolish'd
               by
               desuetude
               ,
               and
               do
               not
               now
               oblige
               the
               Christian
               world
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               Vogue
               of
               all
               our
               Church-men
               :
               as
               namely
               the
               Diaconissae
               ,
               the
               Anointing
               the
               sick
               with
               Oyle
               ,
               the
               Peoples
               saying
               Amen
               after
               the
               Ministers
               Prayers
               ,
               and
               Preaching
               with
               the
               head
               uncover'd
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               To
               conclude
               the
               Examination
               then
               of
               this
               particular
               ;
               a
               considerable
               number
               of
               the
               Laity
               ,
               whose
               Fortunes
               and
               Parts
               do
               keep
               them
               from
               standing
               up
               and
               drawing
               their
               swords
               to
               maintain
               other
               mens
               Creeds
               in
               every
               circumstance
               of
               them
               ,
               having
               by
               the
               contests
               of
               the
               Clergy
               found
               out
               (
               as
               they
               think
               )
               the
               Vanity
               of
               all
               their
               pretendings
               to
               Divine
               Right
               ,
               will
               not
               encourage
               immoderate
               and
               high
               behaviours
               in
               any
               one
               party
               of
               them
               ;
               but
               upon
               this
               their
               imagin'd
               detection
               
               adhere
               to
               that
               form
               of
               Church-Government
               that
               shall
               seem
               to
               them
               most
               consistent
               with
               the
               Nations
               good
               ;
               just
               as
               the
               Roman
               Emperours
               were
               sometimes
               chosen
               in
               the
               Camp
               ,
               Evulgato
               (
               as
               Tacitus
               saith
               )
               
                 Imperiarcano
                 ,
                 Principem
                 alibi
                 quam
                 Romae
                 fieri
                 posse
                 .
              
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               it
               is
               naturall
               to
               Parliaments
               to
               check
               any
               Power
               that
               invades
               a
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               themselves
               wanting
               it
               as
               well
               as
               those
               whom
               they
               represent
               .
            
             
               Nor
               can
               any
               body
               of
               men
               be
               well
               without
               it
               ,
               as
               we
               see
               in
               the
               late
               Assembly
               of
               Divines
               ,
               that
               party
               which
               joyn'd
               against
               the
               Independents
               did
               want
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               about
               no
               mean
               points
               in
               Religion
               ;
               some
               of
               those
               Presbyterian
               Divines
               (
               as
               they
               were
               call'd
               )
               being
               of
               Calvins
               ,
               and
               others
               of
               Bishop
               Davenants
               opinions
               ,
               concerning
               Election
               and
               Reprobation
               .
            
             
               And
               moreover
               ,
               the
               Parliament
               that
               call'd
               that
               Synod
               was
               in
               matters
               
               of
               Religion
               much
               more
               divided
               .
            
             
               But
               I
               shall
               chuse
               to
               look
               further
               back
               on
               the
               nature
               of
               our
               Parliaments
               in
               reference
               to
               Religion
               .
               It
               cannot
               be
               expected
               that
               while
               Popery
               was
               prevalent
               in
               England
               ,
               much
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               should
               be
               granted
               ;
               the
               Pope
               being
               then
               reputed
               the
               Vicar
               of
               Christ
               in
               Spirituall
               things
               ,
               was
               necessarily
               to
               be
               obey'd
               therein
               .
            
             
               And
               yet
               notwithstanding
               the
               Authority
               he
               had
               here
               ,
               no
               man
               suffer'd
               death
               for
               opposing
               his
               Dictates
               in
               Religion
               ,
               till
               the
               second
               of
               Henry
               the
               fourth
               .
               Nor
               are
               there
               wanting
               Lawyers
               ,
               and
               those
               both
               Learned
               in
               their
               Profession
               ,
               and
               in
               this
               case
               uninteressed
               ,
               who
               deny
               that
               this
               Statute
               was
               ever
               more
               then
               a
               pretended
               one
               ,
               and
               say
               that
               it
               was
               never
               assented
               to
               by
               the
               Commons
               ;
               and
               that
               whereas
               in
               the
               Act
               it self
               it
               is
               said
               ,
               
                 Praelati
                 &
                 clerus
                 supradicti
                 ,
                 ac
                 etiam
                 communitates
                 dicti
                 regni
                 
                 supplicarunt
                 ,
              
               that
               those
               words
               ,
               
                 Communitates
                 dicti
                 regni
              
               ,
               are
               not
               in
               the
               Parliament-Roll
               ,
               in
               which
               when
               the
               Law
               comes
               to
               be
               Enacted
               it
               runs
               in
               this
               form
               of
               words
               ,
               
                 Qui
                 quidem
                 Dominus
                 Rex
                 ex
                 assensu
                 magnatum
                 ,
                 &
                 aliorum
                 procerum
                 ejusdem
                 Regni
                 ,
                 concessit
                 &
                 statuit
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               where
               the
               Commons
               are
               not
               at
               all
               named
               .
               See
               Mr.
               Bagshaw
               of
               the
               Temple
               his
               Reading
               on
               the
               Statute
               of
               25.
               
               Edward
               the
               III.
               call'd
               ,
               
                 Statutum
                 pro
                 clero
              
               ,
               p.
               32.
               
            
             
               But
               that
               
                 de
                 facto
              
               this
               Statute
               went
               currant
               for
               Law
               ,
               the
               cruell
               effects
               of
               it
               did
               too
               clearly
               shew
               .
               Yet
               as
               high
               as
               the
               Popish
               Clergy
               then
               was
               ,
               with
               whom
               that
               usurping
               King
               complyed
               ,
               the
               Commons
               petition'd
               the
               King
               to
               take
               away
               their
               Temporal
               Possessions
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               Statute
               made
               against
               Lollards
               in
               the
               second
               year
               of
               the
               King
               might
               be
               repeal'd
               .
               And
               by
               the
               complaint
               of
               the
               Commons
               ,
               as
               appeares
               by
               the
               Statute
               of
               25.
               
               Henry
               the
               VIII
               ,
               it
               was
               then
               in
               part
               repeal'd
               .
            
             
             
               Afterward
               in
               a
               Parliament
               held
               
                 Vicesimo
                 octavo
              
               of
               the
               Queen
               the
               Commons
               quarrell'd
               with
               the
               Excessive
               Power
               of
               the
               Clergy
               ,
               desiring
               to
               have
               it
               restrain'd
               both
               in
               the
               conferring
               of
               Orders
               ,
               and
               in
               their
               Censures
               and
               Oath
               
                 Ex
                 officio
              
               .
            
             
               'T
               is
               true
               ,
               the
               Foundation
               of
               the
               high
               Commission
               is
               built
               upon
               the
               Statute
               of
               the
               first
               of
               Queen
               Elizabeth
               ;
               but
               the
               design
               of
               that
               was
               chiefly
               to
               destroy
               the
               interest
               of
               the
               Popish
               Clergy
               then
               not
               exterminated
               .
               In
               the
               Reigns
               of
               following
               Princes
               ,
               a
               party
               known
               by
               the
               Name
               of
               Puritan
               had
               obtain'd
               a
               large
               Vogue
               in
               Parliament
               ,
               insomuch
               that
               that
               party
               ,
               and
               another
               call'd
               the
               Patriots
               (
               a
               sort
               of
               men
               who
               were
               Zealots
               for
               the
               welfare
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               though
               not
               for
               any
               Religion
               )
               being
               frequently
               in
               conjunction
               ,
               were
               the
               over-ballancing
               party
               in
               the
               House
               of
               Commons
               .
               And
               in
               the
               last
               Parliament
               on
               the
               fifteenth
               of
               December
               ,
               
               1640.
               
               It
               was
               resolv'd
               ,
               
                 nemine
                 contradicen●e
              
               ,
               That
               the
               Clergy
               of
               England
               Convented
               in
               any
               Convocation
               or
               Synod
               ,
               or
               otherwise
               ,
               have
               no
               power
               to
               make
               any
               Constitutions
               ,
               Canons
               or
               Acts
               whatsoever
               ,
               in
               matter
               of
               Doctrine
               ,
               or
               otherwise
               ,
               to
               bind
               the
               Clergy
               or
               Layety
               of
               this
               Land
               ,
               without
               the
               Commons
               consent
               in
               Parliament
               ;
               and
               that
               the
               severall
               Constitutions
               and
               Canons
               Ecclesiasticall
               ,
               treated
               upon
               by
               the
               Arch-Bishops
               of
               Canterbury
               and
               York
               ,
               and
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Bishops
               and
               Clergie
               of
               those
               Provinces
               ,
               and
               agreed
               upon
               by
               the
               Kings
               Majesties
               Licence
               ,
               in
               their
               severall
               Synods
               began
               at
               London
               and
               York
               ,
               1640.
               do
               not
               bind
               the
               Clergy
               or
               Laiety
               of
               this
               Land
               ,
               or
               either
               of
               them
               .
               Which
               Vote
               of
               that
               House
               may
               seem
               to
               be
               grounded
               on
               this
               consideration
               ,
               that
               a
               Legislative
               power
               is
               inseparable
               from
               the
               King
               and
               Parliament
               ;
               and
               that
               if
               a
               Parliament
               would
               transmit
               their
               interest
               in
               
               the
               Legislative
               Power
               to
               any
               other
               order
               of
               men
               ,
               they
               cannot
               do
               it
               ,
               more
               then
               a
               Judge
               can
               delegate
               his
               Authority
               to
               his
               Clerks
               ,
               or
               any
               be
               a
               Deputies
               Deputy
               .
            
             
               I
               shall
               onely
               here
               further
               observe
               ,
               that
               the
               Lawyers
               (
               whose
               Obligations
               on
               the
               account
               of
               interest
               to
               moderate
               the
               power
               of
               Bishops
               I
               have
               before
               spoke
               of
               )
               are
               still
               likely
               to
               be
               a
               great
               part
               of
               the
               House
               of
               Commons
               ,
               and
               to
               have
               the
               conduct
               of
               Parliamentary
               Affaires
               much
               in
               their
               hands
               ,
               and
               to
               concur
               with
               any
               party
               against
               the
               Bishops
               ,
               if
               they
               should
               invade
               the
               due
               Liberty
               of
               mens
               Consciences
               ,
               or
               endeavour
               to
               make
               themselves
               formidable
               in
               the
               Nation
               .
            
             
               The
               LAST
               REASON
               I
               shall
               urge
               to
               prove
               what
               advantages
               will
               redound
               to
               the
               Nation
               from
               the
               allowance
               of
               a
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               is
               ,
               that
               it
               will
               necessarily
               produce
               an
               advancement
               of
               our
               Trade
               and
               Traffick
               ,
               the
               hinderance
               whereof
               must
               needs
               follow
               from
               the
               contrary
               practice
               .
               The
               
               largenesse
               of
               Trade
               in
               any
               Countrey
               is
               most
               certainly
               founded
               in
               the
               populousnesse
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               'T
               is
               onely
               in
               populous
               Countries
               that
               the
               wages
               of
               work-men
               are
               cheap
               ,
               whereby
               a
               greater
               store
               of
               Manufactures
               is
               prepared
               for
               Exportation
               .
               In
               populous
               Countries
               onely
               they
               fell
               their
               own
               Commodities
               dear
               ,
               and
               buy
               foreign
               cheap
               .
               'T
               is
               there
               that
               Land
               is
               worth
               twice
               as
               many
               yeares
               purchase
               as
               elsewhere
               .
               And
               in
               such
               Countries
               onely
               is
               the
               fishing
               Trade
               carryed
               on
               ,
               which
               none
               will
               employ
               themselves
               in
               that
               can
               live
               upon
               the
               shore
               reasonably
               well
               ;
               and
               which
               in
               populous
               Countries
               enough
               will
               not
               be
               able
               to
               do
               .
            
             
               This
               then
               being
               laid
               down
               as
               a
               principle
               ,
               that
               the
               wealth
               of
               any
               Nation
               depends
               on
               its
               populousnesse
               ,
               I
               may
               confidently
               affirm
               ,
               that
               the
               populousnesse
               of
               a
               Countrey
               doth
               much
               depend
               upon
               the
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               that
               is
               there
               granted
               .
            
             
               The
               Kingdom
               of
               Spain
               may
               here
               
               serve
               for
               this
               to
               be
               Exemplified
               in
               ,
               where
               there
               are
               not
               men
               enough
               to
               Manufacture
               their
               own
               Wooll
               ,
               and
               where
               there
               is
               more
               black
               mony
               ,
               Brass
               or
               Copper
               Coin
               used
               then
               in
               other
               Nations
               ,
               notwithstanding
               all
               the
               Silver
               that
               comes
               thither
               from
               the
               West-Indies
               .
               It
               was
               the
               rigour
               of
               the
               Inquisition
               that
               brought
               that
               Monarch
               ,
               who
               would
               have
               been
               an
               universall
               one
               ,
               to
               send
               Ambassadours
               to
               his
               high
               and
               mighty
               subjects
               .
            
             
               But
               we
               need
               not
               look
               out
               of
               our
               own
               Countrey
               for
               instances
               of
               Trades
               suffering
               together
               with
               Freedom
               of
               Conscience
               :
               For
               by
               reason
               of
               the
               former
               severity
               exercised
               on
               those
               that
               would
               not
               conform
               to
               the
               Ceremonies
               imposed
               ,
               many
               thousands
               of
               people
               bred
               up
               in
               a
               way
               of
               Trade
               and
               Traffick
               left
               the
               Kingdom
               ,
               going
               ,
               some
               of
               them
               to
               America
               ,
               and
               others
               to
               Holland
               ,
               where
               our
               Countrey-men
               did
               compensate
               to
               the
               Hollanders
               for
               severall
               Manufactures
               which
               they
               directed
               us
               to
               ,
               when
               the
               Rage
               of
               Duke
               
               Alva's
               persecution
               occasion'd
               their
               residence
               among
               us
               .
               And
               what
               could
               more
               prejudice
               the
               Trade
               of
               our
               Countrey
               I
               know
               not
               ,
               then
               the
               peopleing
               other
               Countries
               with
               our
               Artificers
               ,
               and
               the
               teaching
               them
               our
               Arts
               and
               Manufactures
               .
               And
               it
               is
               considerable
               that
               the
               sort
               of
               Trading
               men
               on
               whom
               the
               shock
               of
               persecution
               did
               seem
               to
               light
               most
               heavily
               ,
               was
               that
               of
               those
               whose
               Trades
               did
               lie
               chiefly
               in
               advancing
               our
               staple-Commodity
               of
               Wooll
               ,
               and
               preparing
               our
               Old
               and
               New
               Draperies
               for
               Exportation
               :
               to
               which
               Trades
               the
               ordinary
               sort
               of
               Puritan
               Non-Conformists
               were
               rather
               inclined
               then
               to
               ploughing
               and
               digging
               ,
               because
               in
               these
               Trades
               of
               theirs
               ;
               as
               namely
               Weaving
               ,
               Spinning
               ,
               Dressing
               ,
               &c.
               
               Their
               Children
               might
               read
               Chapters
               to
               them
               as
               they
               were
               at
               work
               ,
               and
               they
               might
               think
               or
               speak
               of
               Religious
               things
               ,
               or
               sing
               Psalmes
               ,
               and
               yet
               pursue
               their
               Trades
               .
               Besides
               ,
               these
               Trades
               were
               more
               suitable
               to
               their
               
               Constitutions
               ,
               which
               were
               generally
               not
               so
               Robust
               as
               of
               others
               ;
               and
               to
               the
               melancholy
               of
               their
               tempers
               .
            
             
               Now
               these
               men
               being
               frequently
               disturb'd
               by
               Apparitors
               ,
               and
               summon'd
               to
               Ecclesiasticall
               Courts
               for
               working
               on
               Holy-Days
               perhaps
               ,
               or
               going
               on
               a
               Sunday
               to
               some
               Neighbouring
               Parish
               when
               they
               had
               no
               Sermon
               in
               their
               own
               ,
               or
               for
               some
               such
               causes
               ,
               were
               so
               hinder'd
               in
               the
               course
               of
               their
               Trades
               ,
               that
               they
               were
               necessitated
               to
               remove
               out
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               .
               They
               could
               not
               expect
               that
               Merchants
               or
               other
               Trading
               persons
               would
               imploy
               them
               and
               take
               their
               work
               ,
               unlesse
               they
               could
               bring
               it
               in
               at
               such
               a
               set
               time
               that
               it
               might
               be
               as
               occasion
               required
               Exported
               ,
               and
               sent
               to
               Faires
               and
               Markets
               abroad
               at
               punctuall
               times
               likewise
               ;
               which
               Merchants
               are
               concern'd
               in
               taking
               care
               of
               ,
               lest
               their
               Commodities
               be
               undersold
               .
            
             
               Now
               these
               Puritan
               Traders
               were
               not
               in
               a
               capacity
               to
               dispatch
               the
               sending
               
               in
               of
               their
               Manufactures
               to
               others
               at
               the
               time
               agreed
               on
               ,
               by
               reason
               of
               their
               frequent
               Citations
               to
               ,
               and
               Delays
               at
               ,
               the
               Bishops
               Courts
               .
            
             
               And
               since
               other
               Nations
               have
               now
               the
               way
               of
               making
               Cloath
               ,
               as
               namely
               
                 France
                 ,
                 Holland
              
               and
               Flanders
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               not
               sell
               it
               cheaper
               then
               they
               ,
               we
               shall
               hardly
               have
               any
               abroad
               sold
               at
               all
               .
            
             
               To
               conclude
               the
               Examination
               of
               this
               particular
               affaire
               ;
               not
               any
               that
               hath
               search'd
               at
               all
               into
               the
               nature
               of
               the
               Trade
               of
               this
               Nation
               ,
               but
               believes
               that
               the
               best
               way
               to
               advance
               it
               would
               be
               to
               call
               in
               and
               invite
               any
               Protestant
               strangers
               to
               come
               and
               live
               among
               us
               ;
               and
               to
               encourage
               Artists
               of
               all
               Nations
               to
               come
               and
               plant
               themselves
               here
               :
               which
               cannot
               be
               done
               without
               the
               giving
               them
               a
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               and
               if
               it
               be
               our
               interest
               to
               encourage
               strangers
               ,
               and
               give
               them
               this
               Liberty
               ,
               this
               dealing
               may
               much
               more
               be
               expected
               by
               our
               own
               natives
               .
            
             
             
               But
               ,
               't
               is
               needlesse
               to
               insist
               longer
               in
               giving
               plain
               reasons
               for
               a
               plain
               proposition
               .
            
             
               I
               shall
               onely
               therefore
               before
               I
               now
               draw
               this
               discourse
               about
               the
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               that
               is
               fit
               to
               be
               practised
               in
               this
               Nation
               toward
               an
               end
               ,
               shew
               that
               thereby
               the
               Reverend
               Fathers
               of
               the
               Churche
               ,
               the
               Bishops
               ,
               will
               find
               their
               inter●st
               advanc'd
               in
               particular
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               the
               interest
               of
               the
               Nation
               in
               generall
               .
            
             
               If
               any
               man
               shall
               say
               that
               the
               Government
               of
               the
               Church
               by
               Bishops
               is
               the
               most
               pure
               and
               Apostolicall
               ,
               I
               am
               firmly
               of
               his
               opinion
               ;
               yet
               as
               
                 No
                 Bishop
                 no
                 King
              
               is
               now
               no
               uncontradicted
               Maxim
               ,
               so
               is
               it
               lesse
               unquestion'd
               ,
               that
               no
               force
               in
               matters
               of
               Religion
               ,
               no
               Bishop
               .
               But
               notwithstanding
               the
               severity
               that
               hath
               been
               exercised
               on
               mens
               Consciences
               by
               former
               Prelats
               ,
               such
               is
               the
               prudence
               of
               some
               of
               the
               present
               Fathers
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               that
               they
               will
               I
               believe
               see
               it
               to
               be
               as
               much
               their
               interest
               to
               give
               Liberty
               
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               as
               it
               can
               be
               the
               interest
               of
               any
               men
               to
               receive
               it
               .
               And
               indeed
               if
               this
               were
               but
               in
               a
               fair
               manner
               distributed
               among
               the
               severall
               Sects
               I
               have
               spoken
               of
               ,
               they
               would
               no
               more
               endeavour
               the
               destruction
               of
               the
               Episcopall
               Clergy
               ,
               then
               the
               Iews
               at
               Rome
               tolerated
               do
               design
               the
               ruine
               of
               the
               Pope
               .
               Nay
               further
               ,
               these
               Sects
               having
               liberty
               under
               their
               Government
               would
               serve
               them
               as
               a
               ballance
               against
               popular
               envy
               .
               I
               have
               often
               wish'd
               that
               our
               Nobility
               would
               dispose
               the
               Education
               of
               some
               of
               their
               Sonnes
               in
               order
               to
               Ecclesiasticall
               preferments
               ,
               and
               that
               a
               great
               deal
               of
               envy
               might
               be
               diverted
               by
               the
               same
               persons
               ,
               being
               Lords
               Spirituall
               and
               Temporall
               .
               But
               it
               cannot
               be
               expected
               that
               persons
               nobly
               descended
               should
               be
               engaged
               in
               Holy
               Orders
               ,
               till
               they
               could
               see
               the
               way
               of
               Administring
               things
               in
               the
               Church
               to
               be
               as
               much
               in
               the
               affections
               of
               the
               people
               here
               ,
               or
               above
               danger
               from
               their
               hatred
               ,
               as
               in
               other
               Countries
               it
               is
               ,
               where
               
               the
               Nobless
               are
               many
               of
               them
               Church-men
               .
               Now
               then
               the
               Reverend
               Fathers
               the
               Bishops
               ,
               may
               compasse
               the
               Affections
               of
               the
               people
               by
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               and
               security
               from
               the
               danger
               of
               their
               hatred
               by
               an
               Inquisition
               ;
               but
               (
               as
               I
               said
               before
               )
               that
               cannot
               it self
               be
               compast
               here
               .
            
             
               Indeed
               our
               Ecclesiasticall
               Rulers
               have
               reason
               to
               steer
               us
               cautiously
               ,
               since
               they
               sit
               at
               Helm
               in
               such
               a
               ship
               as
               hath
               thrown
               very
               many
               Pilots
               over-board
               .
               And
               it
               may
               well
               become
               those
               Worthy
               Divines
               that
               have
               been
               of
               late
               releast
               through
               Gods
               good
               Providence
               from
               the
               extremity
               of
               their
               sufferings
               ,
               to
               be
               of
               most
               calm
               ,
               quiet
               and
               sedate
               spirits
               ,
               just
               as
               persons
               taken
               from
               the
               rack
               do
               presently
               fall
               asleep
               .
            
             
               The
               great
               alteration
               in
               the
               body
               of
               the
               people
               since
               these
               last
               twenty
               years
               ,
               requires
               that
               our
               old
               ends
               of
               promoting
               the
               welfare
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               ,
               should
               be
               attain'd
               by
               the
               conduct
               of
               new
               means
               .
            
             
             
               For
               the
               greatest
               part
               of
               the
               old
               Assertors
               of
               all
               the
               Ceremonies
               of
               the
               Church
               are
               lodged
               in
               graves
               ,
               many
               of
               the
               zealous
               Lovers
               of
               them
               are
               now
               in
               Heaven
               ,
               where
               Calvinists
               and
               Episcopal
               men
               agree
               ;
               and
               the
               present
               Major
               part
               of
               this
               Land
               consists
               of
               those
               ,
               to
               whom
               the
               introducing
               the
               old
               Church-Government
               will
               seem
               an
               innovation
               .
            
             
               I
               grant
               the
               inconveniences
               which
               we
               suffer'd
               for
               want
               of
               Church-Government
               in
               generall
               have
               been
               many
               ,
               and
               those
               which
               we
               should
               have
               suffer'd
               from
               a
               Scotch
               Presbytery
               would
               have
               been
               more
               .
               But
               yet
               it
               must
               likewise
               be
               granted
               ,
               that
               the
               undistinguishing
               vulgar
               will
               be
               but
               too
               ready
               to
               endeavour
               the
               removall
               of
               any
               Church-Government
               which
               doth
               at
               present
               inconvenience
               them
               ,
               without
               considering
               that
               the
               miseries
               they
               formerly
               felt
               will
               thereby
               recur
               upon
               them
               ;
               just
               as
               a
               horse
               will
               strive
               to
               fling
               any
               Rider
               that
               doth
               at
               present
               gall
               and
               spur
               him
               too
               much
               ,
               without
               considering
               
               that
               the
               next
               Rider
               may
               possibly
               gall
               him
               worse
               ;
               or
               as
               a
               man
               would
               try
               to
               repell
               the
               hand
               of
               one
               who
               held
               a
               burning
               coal
               to
               his
               flesh
               ,
               though
               he
               should
               tell
               him
               that
               if
               that
               coal
               were
               removed
               he
               would
               apply
               a
               hotter
               .
               They
               therefore
               that
               would
               endeare
               any
               form
               of
               Church-Government
               to
               the
               Majority
               of
               the
               people
               ,
               are
               concern'd
               to
               make
               it
               largely
               diffusive
               of
               advantage
               to
               them
               .
            
             
               'T
               is
               very
               apparent
               how
               many
               parties
               among
               us
               have
               been
               ruin'd
               by
               narrowing
               their
               interest
               ,
               and
               not
               making
               it
               nationall
               .
               And
               God
               grant
               that
               after
               all
               our
               enquiries
               about
               Church-Discipline
               ,
               the
               Gentry
               of
               England
               be
               not
               by
               any
               divisions
               the
               present
               Clergy
               may
               cause
               ,
               tempted
               to
               cry
               up
               the
               Divine
               Right
               of
               Erastianisme
               ,
               and
               say
               
                 No
                 Erastian
                 no
                 King
              
               ;
               which
               opinion
               doth
               as
               much
               exceed
               the
               Episcopal
               in
               giving
               power
               to
               the
               King
               ,
               as
               the
               Episcopal
               doth
               the
               Presbyterian
               ,
               or
               that
               the
               Independent
               perswasion
               .
            
             
               It
               is
               therefore
               the
               true
               interest
               of
               
               the
               Clergy
               here
               so
               to
               temper
               the
               Government
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               that
               it
               may
               be
               accommodated
               to
               the
               content
               and
               satisfaction
               of
               the
               Gentry
               or
               other
               Lay-persons
               ,
               and
               of
               its
               own
               Members
               .
               And
               't
               is
               very
               irrationall
               to
               think
               that
               any
               Church-Government
               in
               a
               Protestant
               Countrey
               can
               be
               so
               ,
               which
               doth
               restrain
               a
               large
               and
               almost
               absolute
               power
               to
               the
               hands
               of
               a
               few
               .
               Nor
               is
               it
               more
               prudent
               for
               France
               to
               own
               no
               distinction
               between
               a
               Gentry
               and
               a
               Nobility
               ,
               but
               to
               allow
               equal
               priviledges
               to
               such
               as
               we
               reduce
               to
               two
               Orders
               here
               ,
               that
               it
               may
               effectually
               curb
               the
               insolence
               of
               the
               Peasants
               ,
               then
               for
               the
               whole
               Clergy
               here
               to
               grow
               into
               one
               body
               or
               form
               of
               Government
               ,
               and
               all
               the
               parts
               thereof
               to
               be
               influenced
               with
               a
               convenient
               power
               ,
               that
               so
               it
               may
               be
               in
               no
               danger
               from
               the
               Enemies
               of
               a
               Ministry
               in
               generall
               .
               Nor
               was
               there
               ever
               any
               thing
               propounded
               as
               a
               means
               to
               make
               the
               Clergy
               of
               England
               very
               considerable
               ,
               that
               can
               be
               thought
               comparable
               to
               the
               
               form
               of
               Episcopacy
               described
               by
               the
               Bishop
               of
               Armagh
               .
               And
               therefore
               I
               do
               not
               wonder
               that
               its
               publickly
               own'd
               by
               the
               Divines
               formerly
               call'd
               Presbyterian
               (
               who
               now
               deserve
               a
               name
               less
               odious
               ,
               and
               to
               be
               call'd
               the
               Divines
               that
               are
               for
               moderate
               Episcopacy
               ,
               as
               I
               said
               before
               )
               but
               rather
               that
               it
               is
               not
               as
               generally
               contended
               for
               by
               all
               their
               brethren
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               excepting
               a
               few
               that
               are
               actually
               invested
               with
               the
               highest
               Dignities
               therein
               .
               Now
               if
               we
               divide
               the
               Clergy
               here
               into
               〈◊〉
               parts
               ,
               not
               one
               in
               three
               hath
               these
               great
               Dignities
               ,
               or
               is
               likely
               in
               any
               time
               to
               attain
               to
               them
               .
               But
               that
               which
               the
               Bishop
               of
               Armaghs
               model
               of
               Episcopacy
               offers
               to
               more
               then
               three
               parts
               of
               four
               ,
               is
               an
               Accession
               of
               power
               ,
               or
               a
               gaining
               of
               that
               Authority
               in
               Ecclesiasticall
               matters
               ,
               as
               namely
               in
               Ordination
               and
               Church-Censures
               ,
               which
               before
               they
               had
               not
               .
               And
               certainly
               ,
               the
               grasping
               of
               present
               power
               must
               needs
               to
               any
               Ingenious
               men
               of
               the
               Clergy
               seem
               more
               delightfull
               then
               
               the
               tedious
               Expectation
               of
               distant
               preferments
               ,
               and
               the
               servile
               licking
               up
               of
               any
               mens
               spittle
               ,
               that
               others
               hereafter
               may
               do
               so
               with
               theirs
               .
               By
               the
               practice
               of
               this
               modell
               the
               spirit
               of
               the
               Clergy
               would
               be
               kept
               from
               being
               embased
               ,
               and
               the
               ordinary
               sort
               of
               Vicars
               would
               be
               cured
               of
               affecting
               servility
               ,
               laziness
               and
               ignorance
               .
               Industry
               ,
               Parts
               ,
               Learning
               ,
               would
               be
               likewise
               thereby
               encouraged
               .
               For
               the
               power
               of
               the
               Keys
               being
               thus
               given
               to
               the
               Bishop
               and
               all
               the
               Presbyters
               in
               any
               Precinct
               or
               Dioces
               ,
               those
               men
               that
               could
               offer
               the
               best
               reasons
               for
               things
               ,
               and
               shew
               the
               greatest
               strength
               of
               parts
               ,
               would
               be
               most
               swaying
               in
               Ecclesiastical
               Conventions
               .
            
             
               Nor
               is
               it
               likely
               that
               the
               Gentry
               would
               be
               aggrieved
               at
               the
               practice
               of
               this
               way
               of
               Episcopacy
               ,
               or
               every
               Church-Censure's
               passing
               through
               a
               Consistory
               of
               Divines
               .
               For
               't
               is
               not
               probable
               that
               in
               such
               an
               Assembly
               there
               should
               be
               a
               Combination
               to
               execute
               any
               censure
               on
               any
               man
               ,
               to
               
               gratifie
               the
               lusts
               or
               private
               piques
               of
               another
               .
               Besides
               ,
               there
               is
               no
               such
               way
               that
               a
               Divine
               can
               use
               to
               make
               himself
               considerable
               with
               the
               Laiety
               as
               his
               being
               eminent
               for
               power
               in
               the
               sphere
               of
               his
               own
               Profession
               ;
               just
               as
               a
               Mercer
               that
               would
               by
               any
               sway
               influence
               the
               Company
               of
               Drapers
               ,
               must
               first
               obtain
               a
               large
               interest
               in
               his
               own
               Company
               .
            
             
               In
               short
               ,
               the
               Clergy
               by
               this
               fair
               distribution
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               power
               among
               them
               will
               not
               be
               in
               danger
               of
               ruine
               by
               the
               discontents
               of
               any
               of
               its
               Members
               ,
               or
               of
               any
               of
               the
               Laiety
               while
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               is
               secured
               to
               them
               ,
               and
               Ceremonies
               are
               not
               imposed
               .
               Nor
               is
               there
               any
               way
               by
               which
               the
               incoveniences
               of
               the
               Presbyterian
               Government
               can
               again
               invade
               us
               ,
               but
               by
               the
               engrossing
               of
               Ecclesiasticall
               power
               in
               the
               hands
               but
               of
               few
               persons
               ,
               and
               by
               their
               using
               Rigour
               and
               Violence
               .
               I
               know
               't
               is
               ridiculous
               to
               imagin
               that
               a
               Presbyterian
               Government
               can
               under
               that
               notion
               
               find
               many
               to
               own
               it
               now
               in
               this
               Kingdom
               .
            
             
               Yet
               are
               the
               Non-Conformists
               likely
               still
               to
               increase
               ,
               as
               from
               Edward
               the
               sixths
               time
               to
               this
               they
               have
               gradually
               done
               .
               And
               some
               that
               are
               weary
               of
               our
               former
               Presbytery
               ,
               may
               yet
               be
               willing
               to
               return
               to
               it
               ,
               if
               they
               find
               Episcopacy
               Afflictive
               to
               them
               ;
               though
               thereby
               they
               onely
               shift
               their
               pain
               .
               For
               nothing
               so
               much
               as
               Persecution
               makes
               men
               set
               up
               ,
               
                 Altare
                 contra
                 altare
              
               ,
               every
               man
               choosing
               rather
               to
               be
               a
               Sacrificer
               on
               his
               own
               Altar
               ,
               then
               a
               Sacrifice
               upon
               anothers
               .
               If
               any
               Ecclesiastical
               persons
               therefore
               shall
               design
               to
               gratifie
               the
               Peace
               and
               Welfare
               of
               the
               Nation
               without
               the
               allowance
               of
               a
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               I
               shall
               think
               their
               onely
               aime
               hereby
               is
               to
               confirm
               the
               truth
               of
               their
               Doctrine
               and
               Discipline
               by
               a
               miracle
               .
               I
               cannot
               but
               judge
               them
               too
               sagacious
               ,
               to
               believe
               that
               they
               can
               convince
               mens
               understandings
               of
               the
               truth
               of
               any
               Assertions
               by
               Torturing
               their
               bodies
               .
               
               For
               men
               by
               the
               rage
               of
               passion
               to
               conduct
               knowledg
               into
               the
               World
               ,
               is
               as
               unlikely
               as
               the
               lighting
               of
               a
               candle
               with
               Gun-powder
               .
               How
               ridiculous
               is
               it
               to
               think
               that
               Truth
               got
               any
               thing
               by
               the
               writings
               that
               pass'd
               between
               Luther
               and
               Henry
               the
               eight
               ?
               There
               are
               severall
               erroneous
               opinions
               ,
               that
               if
               we
               wish
               the
               world
               well
               rid
               of
               ,
               we
               shall
               find
               to
               die
               away
               of
               their
               own
               accord
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               not
               exasperate
               the
               maintainers
               of
               them
               ;
               just
               as
               nature
               makes
               us
               amends
               for
               the
               ugliness
               of
               Monsters
               in
               their
               being
               short-lived
               .
               Yet
               even
               in
               the
               case
               of
               naturall
               unhandsomenesse
               ,
               I
               have
               seen
               the
               vulgar
               vary
               from
               their
               common
               Rule
               of
               judging
               it
               ,
               when
               a
               deform'd
               Malefactor
               hath
               been
               going
               to
               Execution
               .
               Nor
               do
               the
               words
               of
               Cheaters
               that
               die
               on
               Gibbets
               want
               belief
               among
               the
               Rabble
               .
               And
               if
               the
               common
               people
               are
               alwaies
               so
               ready
               to
               believe
               what
               is
               affirm'd
               by
               infamous
               persons
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               dying
               ,
               we
               may
               well
               suppose
               they
               will
               give
               credit
               to
               the
               words
               of
               
               such
               as
               liv'd
               demurely
               when
               they
               are
               to
               die
               ,
               because
               such
               and
               such
               thing
               were
               affirm'd
               by
               them
               .
               I
               believe
               that
               hardly
               more
               Priests
               have
               been
               cut
               off
               by
               the
               Law
               then
               Papists
               thereby
               made
               .
               That
               Faith
               hath
               been
               given
               to
               the
               Assertors
               of
               Popish
               opinions
               ,
               because
               they
               have
               been
               dying
               ,
               which
               they
               could
               just
               have
               drawn
               from
               me
               by
               raising
               the
               dead
               .
               Nor
               is
               it
               a
               thing
               unobserv'd
               by
               any
               lookers
               into
               Antiquity
               ,
               that
               the
               Christian
               Religion
               hath
               still
               got
               ground
               in
               the
               World
               ,
               not
               by
               persecuting
               but
               being
               persecuted
               .
            
             
               But
               that
               which
               I
               cannot
               without
               horror
               observe
               ,
               is
               ,
               that
               the
               not
               allowing
               a
               due
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               ,
               hath
               instead
               of
               advancing
               the
               cause
               of
               Truth
               ,
               propagated
               Atheism
               in
               this
               Nation
               .
               This
               doth
               but
               too
               clearly
               appear
               from
               that
               Irreligion
               many
               of
               our
               Gentry
               have
               been
               infected
               with
               by
               the
               Reverend
               Divines
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               not
               having
               had
               freedom
               to
               Worship
               God
               in
               publick
               
               according
               to
               their
               Consciences
               .
               For
               severall
               persons
               of
               the
               Gentry
               not
               being
               able
               to
               hear
               a
               Liturgy
               ,
               (
               a
               way
               of
               Prayer
               which
               every
               Church
               in
               the
               Christian
               World
               but
               ours
               then
               had
               )
               and
               Sermons
               from
               such
               Divines
               as
               were
               not
               Puritans
               ,
               chose
               rather
               not
               to
               go
               to
               Church
               at
               all
               then
               be
               there
               present
               at
               the
               Worship
               they
               disgusted
               ;
               and
               no
               marvell
               that
               thus
               neglecting
               Gods
               publick
               service
               ,
               they
               at
               last
               grew
               unconcern'd
               in
               any
               Religion
               .
            
             
               The
               like
               temptations
               to
               Atheism
               would
               be
               incident
               to
               many
               that
               are
               not
               of
               the
               Gentry
               ,
               if
               Liberty
               as
               has
               been
               propounded
               ,
               should
               not
               be
               given
               to
               the
               Non-conformist
               Divines
               .
               For
               though
               severall
               of
               this
               sort
               of
               men
               would
               exercise
               their
               Devotion
               in
               private
               meetings
               ,
               and
               some
               would
               joyn
               with
               such
               publick
               Worship
               as
               was
               to
               be
               had
               ,
               yet
               many
               would
               hear
               no
               Sermons
               at
               all
               ,
               as
               possibly
               not
               likeing
               that
               which
               looks
               like
               a
               Conventicle
               ,
               and
               more
               disliking
               the
               way
               of
               praying
               and
               preaching
               us'd
               by
               very
               
               many
               Divines
               that
               adhere
               to
               the
               former
               Episcopacy
               .
               Now
               t'
               were
               pity
               that
               this
               disease
               of
               Speculative
               Irreligion
               should
               infect
               the
               Commonalty
               as
               well
               as
               others
               ,
               and
               that
               by
               the
               persecution
               of
               Ministers
               ,
               who
               differed
               from
               us
               in
               lesser
               things
               ,
               we
               should
               as
               it
               were
               naile
               those
               Canons
               that
               might
               be
               employ'd
               in
               battering
               the
               Atheism
               of
               the
               Age
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               not
               all
               of
               the
               same
               length
               and
               shape
               .
               Which
               Atheism
               I
               fear
               hath
               occasionally
               been
               not
               a
               little
               advanced
               by
               the
               disagreements
               of
               Ministers
               about
               the
               Divine
               Right
               of
               severall
               forms
               of
               Church-Government
               .
               For
               things
               to
               be
               believed
               and
               done
               in
               order
               to
               salvation
               ,
               can
               have
               no
               more
               then
               a
               Divine
               Right
               ,
               and
               their
               opinions
               of
               Discipline
               have
               claim'd
               so
               much
               ;
               and
               by
               this
               means
               they
               have
               made
               some
               foolish
               men
               apt
               to
               think
               that
               the
               Trumpet
               of
               Religion
               giveth
               an
               uncertain
               sound
               ,
               and
               that
               nothing
               at
               all
               is
               of
               any
               Divine
               Right
               .
               I
               account
               the
               body
               politick
               of
               the
               Nation
               to
               be
               as
               
               well
               concern'd
               in
               the
               upholding
               Religion
               as
               the
               Souls
               of
               men
               ;
               the
               Majesty
               whereof
               would
               be
               sufficiently
               kept
               up
               ,
               if
               the
               Teachers
               of
               it
               did
               either
               agree
               in
               all
               points
               about
               it
               ,
               or
               else
               in
               this
               one
               thing
               ,
               that
               the
               dissenters
               in
               lesser
               Controversies
               of
               Religion
               are
               obliged
               to
               allow
               a
               mutuall
               toleration
               .
               And
               indeed
               when
               I
               consider
               what
               opinions
               men
               call
               one
               another
               Hereticks
               for
               not
               agreeing
               in
               ,
               it
               seems
               to
               me
               the
               same
               thing
               ,
               as
               if
               after
               the
               Pope
               had
               pronounced
               Virgilius
               the
               Bishop
               of
               Saltsburg
               Heretick
               ,
               for
               saying
               there
               were
               Antipodes
               ,
               he
               should
               have
               call'd
               the
               Pope
               Heretick
               too
               for
               saying
               there
               were
               none
               .
               These
               parties
               that
               differ
               so
               in
               the
               circumstantial
               points
               of
               Religion
               are
               equally
               Antipodes
               to
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               alike
               near
               Heaven
               ,
               and
               in
               the
               Revolution
               of
               a
               few
               houres
               they
               see
               the
               same
               fun
               ,
               though
               not
               the
               same
               stars
               ;
               I
               mean
               ,
               they
               have
               the
               same
               Fundamentall
               ,
               though
               not
               lesse
               considerable
               Truths
               .
               The
               Popish
               Religion
               among
               all
               the
               different
               Ritualls
               
               our
               fore-Fathers
               used
               was
               accounted
               the
               same
               ,
               some
               Worshipping
               God
               ,
               
                 Secundum
                 usum
                 Sarum
              
               ,
               and
               others
               ,
               
                 Secundum
                 usum
                 Bangor
              
               ,
               &c.
               
               Why
               then
               may
               not
               the
               Protestant
               Religion
               be
               so
               esteem'd
               here
               among
               our
               little
               varyings
               ?
               Though
               possibly
               some
               very
               few
               Divines
               of
               all
               parties
               here
               for
               want
               of
               Prudence
               and
               Goodnesse
               of
               nature
               may
               endeavour
               the
               rigorous
               imposing
               of
               things
               not
               necessary
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               such
               as
               we
               may
               be
               without
               ,
               and
               which
               all
               Protestant
               Churches
               but
               ours
               are
               without
               ;
               yet
               will
               the
               Laiety
               probably
               ,
               and
               I
               hope
               a
               great
               part
               of
               the
               Clergy
               of
               severall
               perswasions
               be
               far
               from
               concurring
               with
               them
               as
               Abettors
               of
               such
               an
               odious
               work
               as
               may
               produce
               further
               mischiefes
               to
               Church
               and
               State
               ,
               meerly
               to
               gratifie
               the
               blind
               zeal
               or
               unpurged
               choler
               of
               a
               few
               .
               If
               Gods
               Ambassadors
               have
               a
               mind
               to
               quarrell
               about
               Precedency
               or
               Ceremonies
               in
               Religious
               things
               ,
               pretendding
               that
               it
               is
               necessary
               to
               observe
               them
               most
               strictly
               ,
               the
               people
               are
               
               now
               grown
               so
               wise
               as
               not
               to
               think
               it
               necessary
               for
               themselves
               to
               encounter
               hazards
               ,
               to
               make
               some
               of
               these
               Legats
               of
               Heaven
               submit
               to
               the
               Punctilio's
               of
               others
               ;
               just
               as
               severall
               Ambassadours
               from
               one
               Prince
               falling
               out
               in
               a
               strange
               Countrey
               about
               Ceremonies
               in
               Civil
               things
               ,
               which
               one
               of
               them
               being
               of
               a
               loftier
               humour
               would
               reduce
               the
               rest
               to
               practice
               ,
               would
               hardly
               find
               any
               of
               the
               Natives
               of
               the
               place
               concern'd
               in
               their
               debate
               ,
               whatever
               love
               they
               bore
               to
               their
               Master
               .
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               DISCOURSE
               REPRESENTING
               THE
               LIBERTY
               of
               CONSCIENCE
               ,
               That
               is
               Practised
               in
               FORREIGN
               PARTS
               .
            
             
               By
               N.Y.
               
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
               Printed
               for
               
                 Nathaniel
                 Brook
              
               ,
               and
               are
               to
               be
               sold
               at
               his
               shop
               at
               the
               Angel
               in
               Cornhill
               ,
               1661.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               THE
               LIBERTY
               of
               RELIGION
               ,
               Which
               is
               in
               use
               amongst
               PROTESTANTS
               .
            
             
               T
               Is
               first
               inquir'd
               what
               Liberty
               the
               States
               which
               profess
               the
               Protestant
               Religion
               give
               to
               different
               opinions
               within
               their
               Dominions
               ?
            
             
               To
               this
               I
               shall
               briefly
               answer
               ,
               and
               begin
               with
               the
               Northern
               Climate
               ,
               going
               along
               and
               relating
               what
               I
               have
               observed
               in
               every
               different
               Jurisdiction
               .
            
             
               When
               I
               was
               in
               Sweden
               ,
               I
               found
               the
               Administrators
               of
               that
               Kingdom
               very
               
               much
               inclined
               to
               Moderation
               towards
               the
               Reformed
               party
               ,
               for
               they
               suffered
               them
               not
               only
               to
               have
               School-masters
               of
               their
               own
               to
               teach
               their
               Children
               ,
               but
               also
               they
               permitted
               them
               to
               have
               private
               meetings
               in
               their
               distinct
               Colonies
               ,
               wherein
               they
               had
               the
               free
               use
               of
               holy
               Ordinances
               in
               their
               own
               way
               without
               disturbance
               :
               And
               although
               the
               Clergy
               of
               the
               Nation
               did
               not
               willingly
               allow
               this
               ;
               yet
               whiles
               the
               King
               Gustavus
               and
               his
               Daughter
               the
               Queen
               Christina
               ruled
               ,
               their
               Liberty
               was
               not
               abridged
               ;
               but
               when
               Charles
               came
               to
               the
               Crown
               by
               the
               Resignation
               of
               Christina
               ,
               the
               old
               Chancellour
               Oxenstiern
               ,
               in
               favour
               of
               the
               Clergy
               ,
               caused
               the
               King
               to
               take
               an
               Oath
               at
               his
               Coronation
               ,
               whereby
               he
               was
               obliged
               not
               only
               to
               restrain
               all
               publick
               exercise
               different
               from
               the
               Lutheran
               ,
               but
               also
               to
               abridg
               the
               Reformed
               party
               of
               the
               Liberty
               which
               they
               had
               formerly
               enjoyed
               ;
               which
               hath
               had
               some
               operation
               upon
               their
               freedom
               :
               but
               how
               far
               they
               are
               abridged
               of
               it
               now
               ,
               I
               am
               uncertain
               .
            
             
             
               In
               Denmark
               there
               is
               no
               Liberty
               granted
               to
               any
               that
               differs
               in
               judgment
               ,
               so
               far
               as
               I
               have
               been
               acquainted
               with
               that
               State
               ,
               only
               in
               Holstein
               ,
               when
               the
               Remonstrants
               after
               the
               Synod
               of
               Dort
               ,
               had
               not
               that
               Liberty
               which
               they
               desired
               in
               Holland
               ,
               they
               planted
               themselves
               in
               Eidersh
               at
               Fridericksburg
               ,
               where
               they
               and
               others
               also
               obtained
               the
               prviledg
               of
               the
               exercise
               of
               their
               profession
               without
               control
               ,
               which
               is
               continued
               unto
               them
               still
               .
               Moreover
               ,
               in
               Holstein
               at
               Altena
               ,
               the
               High
               and
               the
               Low
               Dutch
               ,
               and
               the
               French
               Reformed
               Churches
               have
               the
               Liberty
               of
               publick
               meetings
               in
               their
               profession
               ;
               who
               dwelling
               in
               Hamburg
               ,
               and
               not
               obtaining
               that
               Liberty
               within
               the
               City
               ,
               have
               procured
               it
               within
               a
               little
               English
               mile
               from
               the
               Gates
               thereof
               .
            
             
               In
               Dantzick
               ,
               the
               three
               Professions
               ,
               viz.
               Reformed
               ,
               Lutherans
               ,
               and
               Papists
               ,
               have
               ,
               or
               rather
               had
               ,
               an
               equall
               liberty
               in
               the
               time
               of
               Keckermannus
               .
               The
               Reformed
               party
               had
               the
               preeminence
               
               of
               the
               Government
               ,
               and
               then
               they
               did
               in
               a
               friendly
               manner
               admit
               of
               some
               Lutherans
               to
               share
               with
               them
               in
               it
               (
               for
               in
               Religious
               concernments
               all
               were
               alike
               ;
               )
               but
               since
               they
               have
               been
               admitted
               to
               partake
               with
               them
               in
               the
               Government
               ,
               they
               have
               found
               a
               way
               to
               worm
               the
               Reformed
               party
               out
               of
               power
               ,
               by
               which
               means
               they
               have
               abridged
               them
               of
               their
               ancient
               Priviledges
               and
               Liberties
               ;
               so
               that
               before
               these
               late
               troubles
               they
               were
               forced
               to
               appeal
               to
               the
               King
               of
               Poland
               ,
               who
               made
               decrees
               in
               favour
               of
               the
               Reformed
               party
               ;
               but
               in
               these
               late
               troubles
               the
               waies
               of
               redress
               have
               been
               obstructed
               .
            
             
               And
               at
               Elbing
               ,
               when
               I
               was
               there
               the
               chief
               of
               the
               Magistrates
               ,
               and
               the
               regents
               of
               the
               School
               also
               ,
               being
               of
               the
               Reformed
               Religion
               ,
               the
               Liberty
               was
               so
               equal
               that
               no
               party
               had
               any
               perceptible
               power
               over
               the
               other
               ,
               but
               all
               was
               carried
               with
               that
               moderation
               ,
               that
               no
               offence
               was
               either
               taken
               or
               given
               whiles
               I
               was
               there
               :
               but
               since
               (
               I
               
               fear
               )
               it
               is
               fallen
               out
               otherwise
               ,
               a
               fierce
               Lutheran
               Minister
               succeeding
               in
               the
               room
               of
               him
               that
               then
               was
               there
               ,
               who
               by
               dividing
               practises
               ,
               and
               distinguishing
               forms
               ,
               hath
               disturbed
               their
               Peace
               .
            
             
               In
               Poland
               there
               was
               an
               absolute
               freedom
               for
               the
               exercise
               of
               all
               professions
               ,
               and
               the
               venting
               of
               all
               opinions
               ;
               the
               Papists
               ,
               the
               Protestant
               ,
               Calvinists
               ,
               Lutherans
               ,
               Anabaptists
               ,
               Socinians
               ,
               &c.
               all
               had
               an
               equal
               Liberty
               :
               and
               because
               the
               Protestants
               in
               former
               time
               found
               that
               by
               their
               Divisions
               ,
               and
               distance
               in
               Communion
               from
               each
               other
               they
               were
               much
               weakned
               ,
               therefore
               in
               the
               year
               1570
               they
               agreed
               at
               Sendo●●ire
               ,
               in
               a
               Synod
               of
               the
               three
               parties
               ,
               viz.
               the
               confession
               of
               Helvetia
               ,
               of
               Bohemia
               ,
               and
               of
               Ausburg
               ,
               to
               unite
               and
               make
               up
               but
               one
               body
               ▪
               to
               which
               effect
               they
               established
               afterward
               at
               many
               National
               Synods
               severall
               Orders
               ,
               to
               remove
               and
               prevent
               scandalls
               and
               disorderliness
               from
               amongst
               themselves
               ,
               and
               to
               confirm
               their
               unity
               
               by
               the
               means
               of
               mutual
               Edification
               .
            
             
               In
               Transylvania
               both
               the
               Reformed
               and
               the
               Lutheran
               profession
               are
               equally
               free
               ,
               and
               in
               Nationall
               Synods
               they
               meet
               together
               ,
               and
               consult
               in
               common
               ,
               concerning
               the
               means
               of
               mutual
               edification
               ;
               whereof
               I
               have
               a
               large
               proofe
               in
               the
               business
               of
               Peace
               and
               Unity
               ,
               concerning
               which
               they
               have
               done
               more
               then
               any
               of
               the
               Churches
               in
               Europe
               ,
               by
               answering
               all
               the
               doubts
               which
               were
               proposed
               unto
               them
               as
               Cases
               of
               Conscience
               to
               be
               resolved
               .
            
             
               In
               Germany
               heretofore
               the
               reformed
               party
               did
               freely
               exercise
               their
               Religion
               under
               the
               Protection
               of
               the
               Princes
               of
               their
               own
               profession
               ;
               but
               the
               Lutherans
               did
               always
               make
               it
               a
               matter
               of
               Dispute
               ,
               whether
               that
               Liberty
               did
               belong
               unto
               them
               yea
               or
               no
               ?
               yet
               now
               the
               Treaty
               of
               Peace
               lately
               concluded
               at
               Munster
               and
               Osnabrugge
               hath
               decided
               fully
               that
               controversy
               ;
               for
               ,
               by
               a
               Statute-law
               it
               is
               determined
               
               that
               the
               reformed
               party
               shall
               have
               the
               same
               right
               and
               priviledge
               of
               free
               exercise
               which
               Lutheranes
               and
               Papists
               have
               ;
               and
               this
               is
               thus
               determined
               by
               the
               7
               th
               Article
               of
               the
               Instrument
               of
               Peace
               .
               
                 Quoniam
                 verò
                 controversiae
                 Religionis
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Now
                 because
                 the
                 controversies
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 in
                 agitation
                 at
                 this
                 time
                 amongst
                 the
                 forenamed
                 Protestants
                 ,
                 have
                 not
                 been
                 hitherto
                 reconciled
                 ,
                 but
                 have
                 been
                 referred
                 to
                 a
                 further
                 endeavour
                 of
                 agreement
                 ,
                 so
                 that
                 they
                 still
                 make
                 two
                 parties
                 ;
                 therefore
                 concerning
                 the
                 right
                 of
                 reforming
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 thus
                 agreed
                 between
                 them
                 ;
                 That
                 if
                 any
                 Prince
                 ,
                 or
                 other
                 Lord
                 of
                 the
                 Territorie
                 ,
                 or
                 Patron
                 of
                 any
                 Church
                 ,
                 shall
                 hereafter
                 change
                 his
                 Religion
                 ,
                 or
                 obtain
                 ,
                 or
                 recover
                 a
                 Principality
                 or
                 Dominion
                 ,
                 either
                 by
                 the
                 right
                 of
                 succession
                 ,
                 or
                 by
                 vertue
                 of
                 this
                 present
                 Treaty
                 ,
                 or
                 by
                 any
                 other
                 Title
                 whatsoever
                 ,
                 where
                 the
                 publick
                 exercise
                 of
                 Religion
                 of
                 the
                 other
                 party
                 is
                 at
                 present
                 in
                 use
                 ,
                 it
                 shall
                 be
                 free
                 to
                 him
                 to
                 have
                 his
                 Court-chaplains
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 Confession
                 
                 about
                 him
                 in
                 the
                 place
                 of
                 his
                 Residence
                 ,
                 without
                 any
                 burden
                 or
                 prejudice
                 to
                 his
                 Subjects
                 ●
                 but
                 it
                 shall
                 not
                 be
                 lawfull
                 for
                 him
                 to
                 change
                 the
                 publick
                 exercise
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Laws
                 or
                 Ecclesiasticall
                 Constitutions
                 which
                 have
                 been
                 there
                 hitherto
                 in
                 use
                 ,
                 or
                 take
                 from
                 these
                 that
                 formerly
                 were
                 there
                 their
                 Churches
                 ,
                 their
                 Schooles
                 ,
                 their
                 Hospitals
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 revenues
                 ,
                 persians
                 and
                 stipends
                 belonging
                 thereunto
                 ,
                 or
                 apply
                 them
                 to
                 the
                 men
                 of
                 their
                 own
                 profession
                 ;
                 or
                 obtrude
                 Ministers
                 of
                 another
                 Confession
                 unto
                 their
                 subjects
                 ,
                 under
                 the
                 pretence
                 of
                 a
                 Territoriall
                 ,
                 Episcopal
                 or
                 Patronall
                 right
                 ,
                 or
                 under
                 any
                 other
                 pretext
                 whatsoever
                 ;
                 or
                 bring
                 about
                 any
                 other
                 hinderance
                 or
                 prejudice
                 ,
                 directly
                 or
                 indirectly
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Religion
                 of
                 the
                 other
                 party
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 And
                 that
                 this
                 agreement
                 may
                 be
                 the
                 more
                 firm
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Case
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 change
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 lawfull
                 for
                 the
                 Communalties
                 themselves
                 to
                 present
                 ;
                 or
                 such
                 as
                 have
                 not
                 the
                 right
                 of
                 presentation
                 ,
                 they
                 shall
                 have
                 the
                 right
                 to
                 name
                 fit
                 school-masters
                 ,
                 and
                 Ministers
                 of
                 the
                 Churches
                 to
                 be
                 examined
                 by
                 
                 the
                 publick
                 Consistory
                 or
                 Ministry
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Religion
                 with
                 the
                 Commu●alties
                 ,
                 which
                 nominate
                 and
                 present
                 ;
                 or
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 not
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Religion
                 ,
                 they
                 shall
                 be
                 examined
                 in
                 the
                 place
                 which
                 the
                 Communalties
                 shall
                 chuse
                 ;
                 whom
                 the
                 Prince
                 or
                 Lord
                 shall
                 afterwards
                 without
                 any
                 denial
                 confirm
                 .
              
            
             
               This
               Statute-law
               of
               the
               Empire
               is
               the
               ground
               of
               all
               that
               freedome
               which
               the
               Reformed
               ,
               or
               the
               Lutheran
               party
               ,
               can
               lay
               claim
               to
               ,
               when
               they
               fall
               under
               Magistrates
               of
               a
               different
               profession
               .
            
             
               As
               for
               the
               observation
               of
               this
               Law
               ,
               it
               is
               found
               that
               the
               Reformed
               Magistrate
               is
               almost
               every
               where
               more
               equitable
               towards
               Lutherans
               ,
               then
               these
               are
               unto
               those
               :
               for
               in
               the
               Palatinate
               ,
               at
               Heidelberg
               ,
               and
               other
               places
               ;
               in
               Hessen
               ,
               at
               Smalcalden
               ,
               and
               at
               Marpurg
               ,
               and
               in
               some
               places
               of
               Anhalt
               ;
               in
               all
               the
               Territories
               of
               the
               Elector
               of
               Brandenburg
               ,
               and
               in
               the
               Principalities
               of
               Nassaw
               ,
               where
               the
               Reformed
               have
               the
               supreme
               power
               ,
               the
               Lutherans
               have
               
               their
               full
               liberty
               without
               interruption
               ;
               but
               where
               the
               Lutherans
               have
               the
               supreme
               Authority
               in
               Germanie
               ,
               I
               know
               no
               places
               where
               they
               permit
               the
               free
               exercise
               of
               the
               Reformed
               profession
               ;
               but
               in
               the
               places
               named
               heretofore
               in
               Holstein
               ,
               at
               Fridericksburg
               and
               Altena
               ;
               and
               in
               Hamburg
               the
               English
               have
               their
               freedome
               within
               the
               City
               ,
               but
               none
               else
               ;
               nor
               doe
               I
               know
               any
               Imperiall
               City
               where
               the
               Magistrate
               is
               Lutheran
               ,
               which
               permits
               the
               Reformed
               party
               to
               have
               the
               liberty
               of
               publick
               profession
               within
               their
               walls
               :
               there
               is
               one
               of
               the
               Lutheran
               Earls
               of
               Hanaw
               ,
               who
               hath
               given
               of
               late
               years
               to
               the
               Reformed
               party
               dwelling
               in
               Strasburg
               ,
               the
               liberty
               to
               build
               a
               Church
               upon
               his
               Territory
               ,
               and
               to
               have
               their
               publick
               meetings
               therein
               :
               and
               one
               of
               the
               Lutheran
               Marquesses
               of
               Brandenburg
               hath
               done
               the
               like
               a
               year
               or
               two
               ago
               to
               the
               Reformed
               inhabitants
               of
               Noimberg
               .
            
             
               At
               Bremen
               ,
               where
               the
               Magistrate
               is
               wholly
               reformed
               ,
               within
               the
               City
               the
               
               Lutherans
               have
               the
               possession
               of
               the
               Cathedrall
               Church
               ,
               where
               they
               exercise
               their
               Religious
               Worship
               in
               publick
               ;
               but
               there
               are
               complaints
               made
               of
               the
               late
               King
               of
               Sweden
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               Territory
               under
               his
               Jurisdiction
               he
               hath
               suffered
               the
               Statute
               of
               the
               Empire
               touching
               the
               freedom
               of
               Religion
               to
               be
               violated
               ,
               by
               casting
               out
               the
               Reformed
               Ministers
               ,
               and
               imposing
               Lutherans
               upon
               the
               Reformed
               Professors
               ,
               depriving
               them
               of
               the
               Liberty
               which
               they
               have
               enjoyed
               ever
               since
               the
               first
               Reformation
               of
               these
               places
               from
               Popery
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               Low
               Countries
               of
               the
               united
               Provinces
               ,
               the
               Lutherans
               ,
               the
               Remonstrants
               ,
               and
               the
               Anabaptists
               have
               a
               freedom
               to
               meet
               in
               a
               publick
               way
               ;
               others
               of
               all
               sorts
               do
               meet
               in
               private
               :
               and
               the
               difference
               which
               is
               made
               between
               the
               Professors
               of
               severall
               parties
               is
               chiefly
               this
               ;
               that
               the
               Reformed
               party
               ,
               which
               doth
               own
               the
               National
               Confession
               ,
               and
               are
               owned
               to
               be
               Members
               of
               the
               National
               Congregations
               ,
               
               have
               only
               the
               Priviledge
               and
               Preeminence
               of
               being
               admitted
               to
               places
               of
               Trust
               in
               the
               State
               ,
               from
               which
               all
               others
               are
               excluded
               .
               And
               this
               Liberty
               of
               Religion
               which
               the
               united
               Provinces
               have
               yielded
               and
               maintained
               unto
               all
               sorts
               ;
               hath
               made
               that
               little
               spot
               of
               ground
               to
               be
               the
               Centre
               of
               the
               Trade
               of
               Europe
               ,
               having
               onely
               three
               Sea-Ports
               ,
               the
               Wicling
               ,
               the
               Mase
               ,
               and
               the
               Texel
               :
               and
               these
               Ports
               are
               not
               easie
               neither
               ,
               but
               difficult
               to
               be
               entred
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               Cantons
               of
               Switzerland
               and
               Geneva
               there
               is
               no
               different
               Profession
               publickly
               tolerated
               :
               although
               in
               the
               Circumstantial
               way
               of
               the
               Administration
               of
               Ordinances
               ,
               and
               in
               the
               particular
               order
               of
               Discipline
               and
               Government
               ,
               each
               Canton
               is
               different
               from
               another
               ;
               yet
               they
               fell
               not
               out
               about
               their
               differences
               ,
               but
               correspond
               in
               a
               friendly
               manner
               in
               matters
               of
               common
               concernment
               .
            
             
               In
               France
               the
               Protestant
               Churches
               are
               to
               be
               considered
               within
               themselves
               ,
               
               for
               the
               Liberty
               which
               they
               enjoy
               under
               their
               Popish
               Magistrate
               is
               not
               under
               our
               consideration
               ;
               but
               the
               liberty
               which
               their
               Nationall
               Synod
               doth
               give
               to
               particular
               men
               to
               protesse
               different
               opinions
               without
               bleach
               of
               unity
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               is
               that
               which
               is
               to
               be
               observed
               ,
               and
               may
               be
               a
               president
               to
               teach
               others
               Moderation
               ;
               for
               in
               the
               late
               Controversies
               between
               
                 Monsieur
                 du
                 Moulin
              
               and
               
                 Monsieur
                 Amyraut
              
               concerning
               Predestination
               ,
               wherein
               many
               others
               were
               engaged
               on
               both
               sides
               ,
               although
               some
               hears
               did
               begin
               to
               break
               forth
               ;
               yet
               the
               Nationall
               Synod
               hath
               allayed
               the
               distemper
               ,
               and
               preserved
               Peace
               and
               Unity
               in
               the
               Churches
               ,
               notwithstanding
               the
               difference
               of
               judgment
               which
               was
               found
               amongst
               them
               .
               The
               freedome
               which
               the
               particular
               Churches
               have
               to
               depute
               some
               of
               their
               members
               from
               their
               Consistories
               to
               the
               Colloques
               and
               Provinciall
               Synods
               is
               the
               means
               to
               preserve
               their
               Unity
               and
               Peace
               .
            
             
             
               In
               Switzerland
               the
               freedome
               which
               the
               Churches
               enjoy
               doth
               wholly
               depend
               upon
               the
               Constitution
               of
               their
               order
               ,
               as
               ratified
               by
               the
               Civil
               Magistrate
               ,
               who
               in
               each
               canton
               is
               Sovereign
               ;
               and
               upon
               the
               correspondency
               between
               the
               Churches
               ,
               which
               is
               ordinarily
               managed
               by
               those
               of
               Zurich
               towards
               all
               the
               rest
               :
               for
               as
               the
               Canton
               of
               Zurich
               hath
               the
               precedency
               ,
               and
               direction
               in
               all
               Civil
               matters
               of
               common
               concernment
               ,
               so
               hath
               the
               Antistes
               and
               Consistory
               of
               Zurich
               in
               matters
               Ecclesiasticall
               a
               kind
               of
               trust
               put
               upon
               them
               to
               communicate
               to
               the
               rest
               ,
               by
               way
               of
               correspondency
               ,
               matters
               to
               be
               advised
               on
               for
               mutuall
               concurrence
               .
            
             
               In
               Germany
               there
               is
               no
               such
               correspondency
               between
               the
               Churches
               ,
               but
               their
               freedome
               ,
               in
               the
               exercise
               of
               Discipline
               and
               Government
               depends
               wholly
               upon
               the
               Sanction
               which
               the
               Prince
               and
               his
               Ecclesiasticall
               Senate
               or
               Consistory
               doth
               make
               concerning
               the
               order
               and
               way
               of
               administring
               all
               things
               .
            
             
             
               In
               the
               Low-countries
               the
               freedome
               of
               meeting
               in
               Classes
               and
               in
               Synods
               ;
               in
               Classes
               every
               Month
               ,
               or
               oftner
               ,
               if
               need
               be
               ,
               according
               as
               the
               Classes
               are
               divided
               )
               in
               Synods
               Provinciall
               every
               year
               once
               )
               is
               the
               preservation
               of
               these
               Churches
               in
               unity
               ;
               for
               the
               six
               Provinces
               ,
               viz.
               
                 Gelderland
                 ,
                 Holland
                 ,
                 Ulrecht
                 ,
                 Friesland
                 ,
                 Groning
                 ,
              
               and
               Overyssell
               ,
               hold
               their
               Synods
               so
               consecutively
               ,
               that
               they
               can
               send
               from
               each
               Synod
               Deputies
               to
               another
               ,
               to
               correspond
               with
               them
               ,
               and
               to
               communicate
               matters
               of
               Deliberation
               ,
               that
               there
               may
               be
               no
               causes
               of
               breaches
               between
               them
               ;
               the
               Province
               of
               Zeeland
               hath
               no
               setled
               time
               of
               Synodicall
               meeting
               ,
               but
               the
               Classes
               of
               Middelburg
               upon
               all
               Emergencies
               doth
               give
               notice
               to
               the
               other
               Classes
               ,
               of
               the
               adjacent
               Islands
               of
               matters
               to
               be
               taken
               into
               consideration
               :
               So
               that
               in
               the
               Low-Countries
               the
               Liberty
               to
               meet
               for
               the
               ordering
               of
               all
               things
               within
               themselves
               ,
               which
               preserves
               the
               
               Churches
               in
               France
               ;
               and
               the
               Liberty
               to
               correspond
               and
               to
               communicate
               one
               with
               another
               the
               things
               which
               they
               settle
               by
               order
               ,
               which
               preserves
               the
               Churches
               in
               Switzerland
               ,
               is
               more
               complete
               then
               any
               where
               else
               ;
               and
               because
               the
               Deputies
               ,
               or
               rather
               Commissioners
               from
               the
               Civil
               Magistrate
               are
               always
               present
               at
               the
               Provinciall
               Synods
               ,
               therefore
               their
               decrees
               are
               more
               valid
               ,
               and
               yet
               altogether
               free
               in
               matters
               of
               spirituall
               concernment
               .
            
             
               This
               is
               the
               Liberty
               which
               I
               have
               observed
               to
               be
               in
               use
               amongst
               Protestants
               within
               themselves
               ,
               in
               the
               exercise
               of
               their
               profession
               ,
               by
               publick
               meetings
               ,
               by
               the
               administration
               of
               Government
               within
               themselves
               ,
               by
               Classes
               and
               Synods
               ,
               and
               by
               a
               Correspondency
               with
               one
               another
               in
               Religious
               matters
               .
               As
               for
               the
               Liberty
               which
               particular
               members
               have
               in
               each
               Congregation
               ,
               and
               which
               the
               Congregations
               
               have
               in
               each
               Classis
               or
               Colloque
               ,
               and
               by
               what
               Rules
               that
               Liberty
               is
               limited
               ,
               is
               a
               matter
               of
               more
               diffuse
               consideration
               ,
               and
               perhaps
               of
               little
               use
               for
               the
               end
               for
               which
               this
               information
               is
               desired
               :
               therefore
               I
               shall
               not
               inlarge
               upon
               that
               subject
               .
            
          
           
             
             
             
               OF
               THE
               LIBERTY
               of
               RELIGION
            
             
               In
               use
               between
               
                 PROTESTANTS
                 &
                 PAPISTS
              
               .
            
             
               IF
               it
               be
               inquired
               what
               Liberty
               Papists
               have
               where
               Protestants
               bear
               Rule
               ,
               or
               Papists
               give
               to
               Protestants
               when
               they
               have
               all
               the
               power
               :
            
             
               It
               may
               be
               Answered
               by
               the
               consideration
               of
               the
               places
               where
               each
               power
               is
               prevalent
               .
            
             
               On
               the
               one
               side
               ,
               in
               Sweden
               and
               Denmark
               ,
               and
               in
               all
               the
               Territories
               of
               the
               lower
               and
               upper
               Saxony
               ,
               where-ever
               Protestants
               have
               the
               sole
               power
               ,
               no
               Papists
               are
               permitted
               to
               have
               any
               
               publick
               exercise
               of
               their
               Religion
               ;
               and
               on
               the
               other
               side
               ,
               in
               
                 Austria
                 ,
                 Bohemia
                 ;
                 Moravia
              
               ,
               and
               all
               the
               heritable
               lands
               of
               the
               House
               of
               Austria
               ,
               in
               
                 Franconia
                 ,
                 Bavaria
              
               ,
               and
               the
               upper
               Palatinat
               where
               the
               Papists
               have
               the
               sole
               power
               ,
               no
               Protestants
               are
               permitted
               to
               have
               the
               publick
               exercise
               of
               their
               Religion
               .
            
             
               These
               whole
               Territories
               forenamed
               on
               each
               side
               being
               entire
               Bodies
               within
               themselves
               ,
               under
               one
               head
               either
               of
               the
               one
               or
               the
               other
               profession
               ,
               without
               the
               intermixture
               of
               different
               Dominions
               ,
               are
               uniform
               in
               the
               exercise
               of
               their
               Religion
               respectively
               different
               .
               But
               the
               intermediate
               parts
               of
               the
               
                 German
                 Empire
              
               are
               interwoven
               under
               severall
               Princes
               of
               different
               Religions
               ,
               and
               therefore
               are
               of
               a
               mixt
               profession
               :
               my
               meaning
               is
               not
               ,
               that
               the
               professions
               and
               forms
               of
               Religion's
               worship
               are
               mixed
               and
               jumbled
               together
               in
               one
               ;
               but
               that
               both
               professions
               are
               exercised
               ,
               some
               here
               and
               some
               there
               ,
               in
               different
               places
               .
            
             
             
               And
               because
               the
               inhabitants
               of
               the
               intermediate
               Territories
               being
               mixed
               ,
               and
               pretending
               to
               have
               each
               of
               them
               a
               right
               to
               the
               same
               places
               of
               worship
               ,
               quarrells
               and
               strife
               did
               arise
               amongst
               them
               ,
               therefore
               when
               they
               deprived
               one
               another
               of
               the
               freedome
               to
               exercise
               their
               profession
               ,
               the
               Treaty
               of
               Peace
               at
               Munster
               and
               Osnabrugge
               did
               appoint
               the
               Restitution
               of
               places
               for
               the
               publick
               exercise
               of
               Religion
               on
               both
               sides
               ,
               and
               ordered
               that
               all
               matters
               of
               this
               kind
               should
               be
               settled
               thenceforward
               as
               they
               were
               in
               use
               heretofore
               in
               the
               year
               1624.
               which
               order
               occasioned
               a
               Deputation
               from
               all
               the
               States
               of
               the
               Empire
               at
               Francford
               in
               the
               years
               1656
               ,
               57.
               and
               following
               ,
               to
               see
               that
               Decree
               and
               other
               matters
               put
               in
               execution
               .
            
             
               Now
               the
               Intermediate
               Territories
               are
               the
               Circles
               of
               Westphalia
               ,
               of
               the
               Rhine
               ,
               of
               the
               Welterans
               ,
               of
               Franconia
               ,
               and
               of
               Suaben
               ;
               containing
               many
               Principalities
               and
               great
               Cities
               depending
               immediately
               
               upon
               tht
               Empire
               ;
               which
               being
               of
               different
               professions
               ,
               and
               mixed
               one
               with
               another
               in
               respect
               of
               their
               Territories
               and
               Jurisdictions
               ,
               in
               the
               time
               of
               war
               none
               that
               was
               prevalent
               did
               suffer
               a
               different
               Religion
               to
               be
               exercised
               :
               But
               since
               the
               Instrument
               of
               the
               Peace
               made
               at
               Munster
               and
               Osnabrug
               was
               published
               ,
               the
               Liberty
               of
               Religion
               is
               to
               be
               Regulated
               universally
               by
               the
               seventh
               article
               ,
               and
               some
               other
               articles
               determining
               matters
               between
               Protestants
               and
               Papists
               ;
               and
               according
               to
               this
               Constitution
               ,
               although
               some
               Territories
               which
               formerly
               were
               under
               Protestant
               Princes
               are
               now
               under
               a
               Popish
               power
               ,
               and
               
                 vice
                 versa
              
               ,
               yet
               the
               Liberty
               of
               Religion
               is
               to
               be
               left
               unto
               each
               party
               as
               it
               was
               used
               in
               the
               year
               1624.
               
               Thus
               the
               Duke
               of
               Newburg
               ,
               and
               one
               of
               the
               Landgraves
               of
               Hessen
               ,
               and
               a
               Prince
               of
               Nassaw
               ,
               and
               some
               others
               ,
               are
               obliged
               to
               leave
               unto
               the
               Protestants
               within
               their
               Dominions
               the
               free
               exercise
               of
               their
               Religion
               which
               formerly
               they
               
               had
               .
               In
               like
               manner
               in
               some
               of
               the
               Imperiall
               Cities
               ,
               as
               in
               
                 Francford
                 ,
                 Ausburg
              
               ,
               and
               others
               ,
               the
               Papists
               have
               their
               free
               exercise
               restored
               unto
               them
               amongst
               the
               Protestants
               ;
               at
               Ausburg
               also
               the
               Magistrate
               is
               half
               of
               the
               one
               and
               half
               of
               the
               other
               profession
               ;
               but
               in
               all
               the
               other
               Imperiall
               Cities
               ,
               so
               far
               as
               I
               remember
               ,
               the
               Magistrates
               are
               wholly
               Protestants
               ,
               except
               at
               Collen
               and
               Heilbron
               ,
               where
               they
               are
               wholly
               Papists
               .
            
             
               Thus
               matters
               of
               freedome
               stand
               in
               the
               German
               Empire
               .
            
             
               In
               
                 Poland
                 ,
                 Hungaria
              
               and
               Transylvania
               ,
               the
               Protestants
               and
               Papists
               have
               heretofore
               had
               a
               promiscuous
               Liberty
               ;
               onely
               whensoever
               of
               later
               times
               either
               of
               the
               parties
               did
               grow
               more
               prevalent
               in
               power
               ,
               they
               have
               abridged
               each
               other
               of
               their
               Liberties
               :
               and
               now
               at
               this
               time
               the
               Protestants
               of
               Transylvania
               have
               put
               themselves
               under
               the
               Protection
               of
               the
               Turke
               ,
               to
               maintain
               the
               Liberty
               of
               their
               Conscience
               ,
               because
               the
               Jesuits
               by
               the
               power
               of
               the
               
               Emperour
               ,
               which
               they
               can
               command
               to
               bring
               about
               their
               designes
               ,
               would
               have
               forced
               them
               to
               embrace
               their
               Superstition
               .
            
             
               In
               Switzerland
               the
               Protestants
               and
               Papists
               when
               they
               made
               their
               league
               at
               first
               to
               maintain
               joyntly
               their
               Liberties
               against
               the
               House
               of
               Austria
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               pretenders
               to
               have
               Jurisdiction
               over
               them
               ,
               they
               agreed
               mutually
               upon
               this
               also
               ,
               that
               if
               any
               of
               the
               Natives
               living
               in
               the
               Cantons
               of
               either
               side
               should
               change
               their
               Religion
               ,
               (
               for
               then
               they
               were
               perfectly
               divided
               and
               separated
               upon
               the
               interest
               of
               Religion
               ,
               and
               so
               have
               continued
               still
               ,
               that
               no
               Papists
               have
               any
               free
               exercise
               of
               Religion
               among
               Protestants
               ,
               nor
               Protestants
               among
               Papists
               ;
               )
               that
               then
               they
               should
               be
               permitted
               respectively
               to
               sell
               their
               goods
               ,
               and
               transport
               themselves
               unto
               the
               party
               whose
               Religion
               they
               should
               embrace
               :
               but
               of
               late
               the
               Popish
               Canton
               Switz
               did
               break
               this
               agreement
               ,
               and
               would
               not
               suffer
               some
               of
               their
               Native
               
               inhabitants
               to
               partake
               of
               this
               freedome
               ,
               but
               finding
               that
               some
               families
               had
               changed
               their
               Religion
               ,
               they
               did
               confiscate
               their
               goods
               ;
               and
               taking
               hold
               of
               some
               of
               them
               ,
               by
               the
               Instigation
               of
               the
               Friers
               and
               Jesuits
               ,
               they
               condemned
               some
               of
               them
               to
               death
               ,
               and
               others
               to
               the
               Gallies
               ;
               which
               was
               the
               cause
               of
               the
               late
               war
               which
               broke
               forth
               amongst
               them
               ;
               and
               although
               they
               cease
               from
               open
               Hostility
               ,
               yet
               this
               business
               is
               not
               fully
               composed
               .
            
             
               And
               because
               there
               are
               some
               places
               of
               Common
               Jurisdiction
               ,
               wherein
               there
               are
               inhabitants
               of
               both
               parties
               ,
               and
               the
               Cantons
               of
               each
               Profession
               put
               governors
               by
               turns
               for
               some
               years
               over
               them
               ,
               it
               falls
               often
               out
               that
               the
               Protestant
               inhabitants
               in
               these
               Jurisdictions
               are
               commonly
               abridged
               of
               their
               Liberty
               by
               the
               Popish
               Governours
               ;
               which
               gives
               continuall
               occasion
               of
               complaints
               and
               disputes
               between
               the
               Cantons
               ,
               and
               at
               last
               may
               break
               forth
               to
               some
               violent
               rupture
               ,
               and
               to
               a
               totall
               suppression
               either
               of
               the
               one
               or
               the
               other
               .
            
             
             
               In
               France
               ,
               by
               Vertue
               of
               the
               Edict
               of
               Nantes
               ,
               the
               Protestants
               ought
               to
               have
               the
               full
               Liberty
               of
               their
               Religion
               in
               the
               places
               of
               their
               abode
               ,
               and
               enjoy
               all
               the
               Rights
               and
               Priviledges
               which
               belong
               to
               Natives
               ;
               but
               since
               the
               time
               of
               our
               troubles
               in
               England
               they
               have
               been
               very
               much
               abridged
               thereof
               in
               severall
               places
               ;
               yet
               in
               Oliver
               the
               Protector
               his
               time
               they
               got
               some
               enlargement
               ,
               which
               now
               since
               the
               Peace
               is
               made
               with
               Spain
               doth
               cease
               ,
               so
               that
               they
               are
               under
               the
               danger
               of
               being
               persecuted
               every
               where
               ,
               as
               being
               expoposed
               to
               the
               fury
               of
               the
               multitude
               ,
               without
               any
               assurance
               of
               Safety
               ,
               further
               then
               it
               is
               an
               inconveniency
               to
               the
               Society
               of
               Papists
               themselves
               with
               whom
               they
               live
               ;
               otherwise
               the
               Jesuits
               and
               Popish
               Emissaries
               are
               restless
               to
               stir
               up
               their
               zelots
               to
               molest
               them
               ,
               and
               do
               what
               they
               can
               to
               extirpate
               them
               ;
               witness
               that
               which
               fell
               out
               of
               late
               at
               Montauban
               ,
               at
               Bourdeaux
               ,
               at
               Dieppe
               ,
               and
               and
               elsewhere
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               Vallies
               of
               Piemont
               the
               poor
               
               Churches
               there
               since
               the
               Peace
               made
               have
               still
               been
               molested
               more
               or
               less
               without
               intermission
               ;
               for
               besides
               other
               matters
               ,
               that
               which
               is
               their
               chief
               concernment
               ,
               namely
               the
               Liberty
               to
               meet
               at
               St.
               Giovanni
               ,
               to
               exercise
               their
               Catechisme
               ,
               that
               not
               only
               the
               youth
               may
               be
               instructed
               ,
               but
               those
               of
               riper
               years
               confirmed
               in
               the
               Protestant
               Religion
               ,
               is
               wholly
               taken
               from
               them
               .
               This
               Liberty
               is
               in
               a
               manner
               the
               whole
               substance
               or
               chief
               part
               of
               their
               publick
               exercise
               ;
               this
               formerly
               they
               have
               always
               had
               ,
               and
               by
               this
               last
               treaty
               of
               Peace
               it
               hath
               been
               confirmed
               unto
               them
               ;
               nevertheless
               they
               are
               deprived
               of
               it
               ,
               and
               new
               matters
               of
               quarrell
               are
               formed
               against
               them
               for
               other
               pretences
               ,
               and
               chiefly
               against
               their
               Ministers
               ;
               for
               the
               designe
               is
               to
               fright
               away
               their
               Leaders
               ,
               that
               being
               scattered
               like
               lost
               sheep
               upon
               the
               mountains
               ,
               they
               may
               become
               a
               prey
               to
               the
               wolves
               that
               seek
               to
               devour
               them
               .
            
             
               In
               the
               Low-countries
               both
               of
               the
               United
               and
               of
               the
               Spanish
               Provinces
               ,
               
               there
               is
               a
               certain
               reciprocall
               Liberty
               for
               the
               Papists
               in
               the
               Dominions
               of
               the
               States
               ,
               and
               for
               the
               Protestants
               in
               the
               Dominions
               of
               the
               Spaniard
               ;
               but
               the
               Liberty
               is
               not
               equal
               ,
               for
               in
               the
               United
               Provinces
               the
               States
               allow
               the
               Papists
               a
               certain
               number
               of
               Priests
               to
               administer
               unto
               them
               the
               things
               belonging
               to
               their
               Conscience
               in
               a
               private
               way
               ,
               which
               is
               done
               by
               an
               express
               concession
               or
               condescension
               ;
               but
               in
               the
               Spanish
               Dominions
               no
               such
               thing
               is
               granted
               unto
               the
               Protestants
               who
               live
               amongst
               them
               ,
               but
               the
               Ministers
               who
               administer
               Holy
               things
               unto
               them
               privately
               ,
               do
               it
               at
               their
               perill
               ;
               they
               have
               no
               Concession
               to
               attend
               any
               private
               meetings
               ,
               but
               only
               they
               are
               winked
               at
               ,
               and
               suffered
               to
               doe
               (
               what
               they
               venture
               upon
               )
               by
               way
               of
               Connivence
               ;
               so
               that
               the
               difference
               is
               ,
               that
               the
               Papists
               in
               the
               United
               Provinces
               have
               an
               assurance
               of
               freedome
               which
               they
               enjoy
               ,
               but
               the
               Protestants
               in
               the
               other
               Provinces
               have
               no
               such
               freedome
               assured
               unto
               them
               ;
               which
               makes
               the
               Papists
               increase
               
               and
               multiply
               in
               the
               Dominion
               of
               the
               States
               ,
               and
               the
               Protestants
               diminish
               in
               the
               other
               Provinces
               :
               and
               the
               effect
               of
               this
               may
               be
               ,
               that
               when
               some
               of
               the
               Papists
               shall
               creep
               into
               places
               of
               power
               ,
               and
               finding
               the
               Protestants
               divided
               amongst
               themselves
               ,
               and
               their
               own
               party
               strong
               enough
               to
               make
               a
               head
               with
               the
               assistance
               of
               neighbour
               foregin
               forces
               ,
               they
               may
               make
               a
               totall
               change
               of
               Government
               in
               that
               Common-wealth
               .
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A54578-e160
           
             Barclay
             in
             the
             4th
             .
             book
             of
             his
             Euphormio
             .