# bib

id: A64342
author: Protestant that is for liberty of conscience to all perswasions.
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1297
sentence: 54
flesch: 61
cache: cache/A64342.xml
txt: txt/A64342.txt
title:
  Ten seasonable queries proposed by a Protestant that is for liberty of conscience to all perswasions.

summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 101729)


id: A77751
author: Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1628-1687.
title: His Grace the Duke of Buckingham's speech for liberty of conscience in M.DC.LXXII
date: 1689
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1427
sentence: 61
flesch: 64
cache: cache/A77751.xml
txt: txt/A77751.txt
summary:
  Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A77751) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 152229)


id: A46465
author: England and Wales. Sovereign (1685-1688 : James II)
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1409
sentence: 59
flesch: 59
cache: cache/A46465.xml
txt: txt/A46465.txt
title:
  By the King, a declaration having already signified our pleasure to call a Parliament ... it is our royal purpose to endeavour a legal establishment of an universal liberty of conscience for all our subjects ...

summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL).


id: A29980
author: Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1628-1687.
date: 1685
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1584
sentence: 59
flesch: 62
cache: cache/A29980.xml
txt: txt/A29980.txt
title:
  The Duke of Buckingham His Grace's letter to the unknown author of a paper, entituled, A short answer to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham's paper concerning religion, toleration and liberty of conscience

summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 101142)


id: A46516
author: England and Wales. Sovereign (1685-1688 : James II)
title: A proclamation
date: 1687
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1880
sentence: 88
flesch: 64
cache: cache/A46516.xml
txt: txt/A46516.txt
summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A46516) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 101000)


id: A34089
author: Comber, Thomas, 1645-1699.
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 2558
sentence: 85
flesch: 63
cache: cache/A34089.xml
txt: txt/A34089.txt
title:
  Three considerations proposed to Mr. William Pen concerning the validity and security of his new magna charta for liberty of conscience by a Baptist ; which may be worthy the consideration of all the Quakers and of all my dissenting brethren also that have votes in the choice of Parliament-men.

summary:
  Three considerations proposed to Mr. William Pen concerning the validity and security of his new magna charta for liberty of conscience by a Baptist ; which may be worthy the consideration of all the Quakers and of all my dissenting brethren also that have votes in the choice of Parliament-men. Comber, Thomas, 1645-1699. 1688 Approx. Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1438:20) Three considerations proposed to Mr. William Pen concerning the validity and security of his new magna charta for liberty of conscience by a Baptist ; which may be worthy the consideration of all the Quakers and of all my dissenting brethren also that have votes in the choice of Parliament-men.


id: A54221
author: Penn, William, 1644-1718.
date: 1682
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 2471
sentence: 67
flesch: 50
cache: cache/A54221.xml
txt: txt/A54221.txt
title:
  Some sober and weighty reasons against prosecuting Protestant dissenters for difference of opinion in matters of religion humbly offered to the consideration of all in authority.

summary:
  10. Reason , Because Persecution for matters of Conscience is a Breach of the good Rules of Humanity , and common Civility among all sorts of men , which is carefully observed in smaller matters : as for instance , among the many Creatures of God that are Food for mens Bodies , some things that are very pleasing and comfortable Food for some men , the same things are very Destructive to the health of other men ; now in this Case there is such Civility among all sorts of men that they hate and scorn to force one anothers Stomacks , looking upon it to be an inhumane practise ; and therefore do friendly , say to each other , Pray eat that which will best go down , and agree with your Stomack . Some sober and weighty reasons against prosecuting Protestant dissenters for difference of opinion in matters of religion humbly offered to the consideration of all in authority.


id: A79991
author: Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668.
date: 1664
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 3310
sentence: 72
flesch: 51
cache: cache/A79991.xml
txt: txt/A79991.txt
title:
  To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord.

summary:
  To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord. Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1641-1700 ; 2638:23) To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord.


id: A30777
author: B. G.
title: A proposall humbly offered for the farming of liberty of conscience
date: 1662
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 4384
sentence: 112
flesch: 48
cache: cache/A30777.xml
txt: txt/A30777.txt
summary:
  An Ass without Ears , Braying , with this Motto incircled Stat pro ratione libertas : And the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers or any 24 of them in the said Office assembled , may from time to time compound and agree for Liberty of Conscience , with any person or persons , under such Rates and Qualifications , as are hereafter specified . That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers , or any 24 of them , may constitute and appoint , under the Publique Seal of the Office , Sub-Commissioners , and other Officers , for every Countie within the said Kingdom , not exceeding the number of 12. for each County , whereof 7 to be a Quorum , who may compound and agree for Liberty of Conscience , with any person or persons , select Congregations , Ca●ed , Towns Corporate , Parishes Hamlets , and Uillages , by the great , or otherwise , within their respective Countries , not exceeding the Rates hereafter mentioned .


id: A51462
author: H. M.
title: A letter to a person of honour in London concerning the papists from an old cavalier in Yorkshire.
date: 1663
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5097
sentence: 151
flesch: 60
cache: cache/A51462.xml
txt: txt/A51462.txt
summary:
  First , they cried out against the Papists , as if they were Traytors , till they had disabled them : Then , against the Protestants , as if they were Papists , till they had mastered them : Then , against every one that would not rebel , till they had ruin'd all . If the present Papists be too few to be fear'd , what need we punish those who now are Papists , lest they should grow hereafter so many as to be fear'd ?


id: A54230
author: Penn, William, 1644-1718.
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5687
sentence: 203
flesch: 61
cache: cache/A54230.xml
txt: txt/A54230.txt
title:
  Three letters tending to demonstrate how the security of this nation against al future persecution for religion lys in the abolishment of the present penal laws and tests, and in the establishment of a new law for universal liberty of conscience

summary:
  And after al this , and what more the Wisest Heads may invent , let The King himself be humbly beseeched to suffer in it a Clause , by which , reserving al other Rights of his Prerogative inviolated , he may solemnly renounce the onely Right of Dispensing with this Law , or of Pardoning any Transgressor of it in any case whatsoever . But where I see ground to fear that the granting of this Liberty should serv onely to put a Power into their Hands that now demand it , wherby they may be able hereafter to take it away from others , truly in that case I am apt to hesitate upon the Point ; or to say better , I confess that I hesitate not at al.


id: A30511
author: Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.
date: 1661
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5969
sentence: 90
flesch: 24
cache: cache/A30511.xml
txt: txt/A30511.txt
title:
  The case of free liberty of conscience in the exercise of faith and religion presented unto the King and both Houses of Parliament ... / by ... Edward Burroughs.

summary:
  upon the occasion of diversities of opinions then in that Kingdom , said he , It is an errour of State in a Prince for an opinion of piety to condemn to death the adherers to new Doctrines ; for the constancy and patience of those who voluntarily suffer all temporal miseries for matters of faith , stir up numbers who at first and before they had suffered were ignorant of their faith and doctrine , not onely to favour their cause , but to embrace their opinions , pity and commiseration opening the gates , and thus their faith is spread , and their number daily increaseth , &c. 7. Consider , If that ye do not allow Liberty of Conscience but do impose and persecute as aforesaid , though some for your fear , and terrour , and force against their Consciences should deny their Principles , and conform to your Church , such ye cause to sin ; for whatsoever is performed by force and not of faith is sin , as it is written , and such their sin will be laid to your charge ; and such who cannot deny their Principles and conform , will be destroyed , and their death will be accounted against you in the day of the Lord ; and therefore if ye do not allow Liberty of Conscience , many grievous evils will infallibly follow , both to your selves and your people And what advantage of honour will such be to God and your ; Church , that are against their Consciences and light forced into a conformity for fear and terrour of men ; it makes them manifold more the Children of the Devil , and time-servers , and Hypocrites , and destroys their souls , and such can be no true members of the true Church of Christ , but are Reprobates , and a dishonour to God and your Church . 8. Consider , if ye constrain and compel in matters of Religion , and do not allow liberty of Conscience , it is unreasonable and unequal , and down-right contrary to the Holy and pure Law of God , which saith , ye shall do unto all men , as ye would that men should do unto you , and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self , and this is the fulfilling of the Law ; But to be imposed upon and persecuted for the cases of Consciences , and for the matters of Worship of God , your selves would not willing be against your light and knowledge , and then it is unequal and unjust , and contrary to the Law of God , for ye to do the same to others , which your selves would not be done unto ; And do not you to this day cry out against the Papists in Queen Maries daies , and at this day in other Nations , and condemn them as Tyrants and Oppressors , for Persecuting , Killing , and Destroying the Protestants , for the matters of their Conscience and difference in Opinion and Judgment ? And will you do the same at this day as they do to others , and follow their example of cruelty and persecution , and break the Law of God , and walk contrary to it , in doing to others what you would not be done unto ? And seeing you condemn the late foregoing Powers in these Kingdoms for Tyrants and Usurpers , and Oppressors , for prohibiting your way of worship , and commanding the contrary , and disanulling so much as they could your service Book and Ministry ; how can you justly do the like to others , as to force waies of Religion upon them , and prohibit theirs and command the contrary ? if you do it , ye condemn your selves by judging of others in the like case .


id: A92658
author: James II, King of England, 1633-1701. aut.
title: A proclamation, anent field conventicles and house-meetings
date: 1687
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1660
sentence: 63
flesch: 59
cache: cache/A92658.xml
txt: txt/A92658.txt
summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A92658) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 153558)


id: A54123
author: Penn, William, 1644-1718.
date: 1685
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5752
sentence: 183
flesch: 58
cache: cache/A54123.xml
txt: txt/A54123.txt
title:
  Considerations moving to a toleration and liberty of conscience with arguments inducing to a cessation of the penal statues against all dissenters whatever, upon the account of religion : occasioned by an excellent discourse upon that subject publish'd by His Grace the Duke of Buckingham / humbly offered to the Parliament at their next sitting at Westminster.

summary:
  This whole Discourse therefore , being absosolutely free from the least intention of favouring any of those false Pretenders to Religion and Christianity , those wicked Enemies of Magistracy , the Sacred Ordinance of God , is only an Endeavour to evince the Reasonableness of a Christian forbearance to our weak Brother , purely and only as such . Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.


id: A30370
author: Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
date: 1689
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5948
sentence: 104
flesch: 37
cache: cache/A30370.xml
txt: txt/A30370.txt
title:
  A letter, containing some reflections on His Majesties Declaration for liberty of conscience dated the fourth of April, 1687

summary:
  X. At the end of the Declaration , as in a Postscript , His Majesty assures his Subjects , that he will maintain them in their Properties , as well in Church and Abbey-Lands , as other Lands : but the Chief of all their Properties being the share that they have by their Representatives in the Legislative Power ; this Declaration , which breaks thro that , is no great Evidence that the rest will be maintained : and to speak plainly , when a Coronation Oath is so little remembred , other Promises must have a proportioned degree of Credit given to them : as for the Abbey Lands , the keeping them from the Church is according to the Principles of that Religion Sacriledge ; and that is a Mortal Sin , and there can no Absolution be given to any who continue in it : and so this Promise being an Obligation to maintain men in a Mortal Sin , is null and void of it self : Church-Lands are also according to the Doctrine of their Canonists , so immediatly Gods Right , that the Pope himself is only the Administrator and Dispencer , but is not the Master of them ; he can indeed make a truck for God , or let them so low , that God shall be an easy Landlord : but he cannot alter Gods Property , nor translate the Right that is in him to Sacrilegious Laymen and Hereticks . And if His Majesty renounces his Pretensions to our Allegeance as founded on the Laws of England ; and betakes himself to this Law of Nature , he will perhaps find the Counsel was a little too rash ; but to make the most of this that can be , the Law of Nations or Nature does indeed allow the Governours of all Societies a Power to serve themselves of every Member of it in the cases of extream Danger ; but no Law of Nature that has been yet heard of will conclude , that if by special Laws , a sort of men have been disabled from all Imployments , that a Prince who at his Coronation Swore to maintain those Laws , may at his pleasure extinguish all these Disabilities .


id: A47977
author: Care, Henry, 1646-1688, recipient.
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 2081
sentence: 73
flesch: 61
cache: cache/A47977.xml
txt: txt/A47977.txt
title:
  A letter from a country curate to Mr. Henry Care, in defence of the seven bishops Licensed July 18. 1688.

summary:
  A letter from a country curate to Mr. Henry Care, in defence of the seven bishops Licensed July 18. 1688. A letter from a country curate to Mr. Henry Care, in defence of the seven bishops Licensed July 18. 1688.


id: A48373
author: Crook, John, 1617-1699.
date: 1661
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 3023
sentence: 120
flesch: 65
cache: cache/A48373.xml
txt: txt/A48373.txt
title:
  Liberty of conscience asserted and several reasons rendred why no outward force nor imposition ought to be used in matters of faith and religion with several sayings collected from the speeches and writings of King James and King Charles the First / John Crook, Samuel Fisher, Francis Howgill, Richard Hubberthorne.

summary:
  Because , Force is contrary to the End for which it is pretended to be used ( viz. ) the preservation and safety of the Wheat , which End is not answered by Persecution , because the Wheat is in danger to be plucked up thereby , as Christ saith . 9. Because , to force , is inconsistent with the Belief of the Jews Conversion ( and other false worshippers ) which is prayed for by the Publick Teachers , and cannot be attained , if Persecution for Conscience be prosecuted . 10. Because , they that impose upon mens Consciences , exercise Dominion over mens Faith , which the Apostles denyed , saying , they had not Dominion over any mens Faith. 11. Because , Imposition upon mens Consciences necessitates them to sin , in yeelding a Conformity contrary to their own faith : for whatsoever is not of a mans own faith , is sin . 12. Now I say unto you , Refrain from these men , and let them alone : for if this Counsel , or this Work , be of men , it will come to nought :


id: A33745
author: Care, Henry, 1646-1688.
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9772
sentence: 290
flesch: 60
cache: cache/A33745.xml
txt: txt/A33745.txt
title:
  An answer to a paper importing a petition of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and six other bishops, to His Majesty, touching their not distributing and publishing the late declaration for liberty of conscience

summary:
  And what greater Assay to it can there be , than Disobedience ? inasmuch as he that thinks his Prince ought not to be obey'd , will from one thing to another , come at last to think him not fit to be King. Now when all Clergy-men have subscribed , That the Book of Common-Prayer , containeth nothing in it , contrary to the Word of God ; and that the King has enjoyned , That his Declaration be read in all Churches , during the time of Divine Service ; these Subscriptions of theirs ( besides the Authority of King and Parliament ) conclude themselves , from offering any thing against the Lawfulness of reading it , as it had been enjoyn'd to them , and the Rubrick , requir'd of them .


id: A54470
author: Crook, John, 1617-1699.
date: 1670
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9623
sentence: 309
flesch: 58
cache: cache/A54470.xml
txt: txt/A54470.txt
title:
  Persecvtion inconsistant with Christianity, humane society, and the honor of princes from the testimonies of themselves, and approved authors, and martyrs, herein impartially collected : whereunto is added certain solid reasons why no outward force, nor imposition ought to be used in matters of faith, &c. / by those faithfull witnesses who died under suffering for the testimony of Jesus, viz: Richard Hubberthorn, Samuel Fisher, Francis Howgill.

summary:
  And because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced several Opinions in Religion , by which men are engaged in Parties and Animosities against each other ; which when they shall hereafter unite in a freedom of Conversation , will be composed , or better understood . pag. 192. Haywardus said , That the best Writers of that time did agree in one opinion , and with Tertulliano , Lactantio , Cassidoro , and Iosephus , &c. That People must inform men to imbrace Religion with Reason , and not compel them by violence .


id: A54215
author: Penn, William, 1644-1718.
date: 1687
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 7116
sentence: 220
flesch: 57
cache: cache/A54215.xml
txt: txt/A54215.txt
title:
  Som free reflections upon occasion of the public discourse about liberty of conscience and the consequences thereof in this present conjuncture in a letter to a friend / by one who cordially imbraces whatsoever there is of tru religion in al professions, and hates every thing which makes any of them hate or hurt one another.

summary:
  They have al been straitned , persecuted and oppressed ; and therfore nothing can be more natural than for them to desire Liberty and Ease . But it would be very superfluous in me to insist upon them unto you , who have seen and heard them repeated of late Years in a thousand Forms , and who I know ar your self ▪ convinced of the natural equitableness of the thing , not withstanding al the inconveniencys that you have represented to me in its practice .


id: A60294
author: Hanson, Geo. aut
date: 1661
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 10473
sentence: 259
flesch: 54
cache: cache/A60294.xml
txt: txt/A60294.txt
title:
  Sions groans for her distressed, or Sober endeavours to prevent innocent blood, and to stablish the nation in the best of settlements Grounded upon scripture, reason, and authority. Proving it the undoubted right of Christian liberty under different perswasions, in matters spiritual, to have equal protection as to their civil peace. Unto which is added the testimony of fifteen antients. Humbly offered to the Kings Majesty, Parliament and people, and left unto their serious view. By Tho. Monck, Joseph Wright, Fran. Stanley, &c.

summary:
  And now I say unto you , refrain from these men , and let them alone , for if this Counsel or Work be of man , it will come to nought , but if it be of God , ye cannot overthrow it , lest haply ye be found to fight against God. This with grief of heart we see too visible , for the Doctrine and Traditions of Rome ( who is mystery Babylon , and since her Apostacy the Mother of Harlots , For the woman which thou sawest , is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth ) have so corrupted the earth , and clouded the understandings of the sons of men , that the great and most important truths of God cannot bee received or beleeved .


id: A58811
author: Scott, John, 1639-1695.
date: 1673
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 10992
sentence: 176
flesch: 28
cache: cache/A58811.xml
txt: txt/A58811.txt
title:
  A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen, at Guild-Hall Chappel, upon the 5th of November, 1673 in commemoration of Englands deliverance from the Gun-powder treason / by John Scott, Minister of St. Thomas's in Southwark.

summary:
  For how is it possible , considering the passions of humane nature , that the Persecuted Party should love their Persecutors , whom they see armed with Fire and Faggot to destroy them ? and when once they hate them ( as they will soon do when they 〈◊〉 them ) their passion will immediately provoke their Reason to damn and censure them , which is the only means that Persecuted People have a stay to the stomach of their hungry Vengeance , till they have power , and opportunity to glut it in the blood of their Persecutors : and if in the revolution of things , the Persecuted should get above their Persecutors , what can be expected , but that to preserve themselves , they will destroy them from whom they can expect nothing but destruction , should another revolution mount them uppermost again ; and so Christendom will be made a Cock-pit of Cruelties , and as often as mens understandings are deceived , and abused ; so often there will be new Executions and Massacres , which must therefore needs be the more cruel and unmerciful , because they are so Consecrated with a pretence of Religion : for when Religion , which should be the Antidote of our Cruelty , proves its greatest Incentive , it must needs run on the faster into mischief , by how much that which stopped its course before , drives it on with the greater violence ; so that by Persecuting men upon the score of Opinion , we do what in us lies , to banish Charity out of the World ; and in the room of that Love and Union , which our Religion injoyns , to introduce nothing but Rage , Revenge , and Cruelty ; and to make Christendom more Barbarous th●● America . Thirdly , That the Proposition is not be understood of our practice , but of our Judgements and Opinions : for every man hath a natural Right , as he is a Rationable creature , to judg for himself ; and to punish any one for so doing , is the greatest tyranny in the world ; it being an exercise of dominion over the minds of men , which are subject only to the Empire of God ; but as for our practice , that 's liable to the restraints of humane Laws ; and that as well in Sacred , as in Civil Affairs ; they cannot indeed oblige us to do what God hath forbidden us , because his , being the supreme Authority , ought to take place against all the countermands of any inferiour power whatsoever : but then there are a world of things which remain in a state of indifferency , and are left undetermined both by the natural , and positive Laws of God : and these are all liable to the commands and determinations of humane Authority , and are the proper matter of Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws ; to the extent of whose jurisdiction , there can be no other restraint , than only the countermand of a Superiour Authority ; and therefore if there be nothing antecedently evil enjoyned by the Laws , whether Civil , or Ecclesiastical , we are bound to obey them ; and if we do not , we are justly punishable for our disobedience .


id: A30326
author: Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
date: 1688
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 6284
sentence: 111
flesch: 36
cache: cache/A30326.xml
txt: txt/A30326.txt
title:
  The case of compulsion in matters of religion stated by G.B. ; addressed to the serious consideration of the members of the Church of England, in this present juncture.

summary:
  Men likewise receive with their impressions of Religion such a respect for them as makes them look on every thought that calls them in question as criminal ; and when Persons are bred up to disquiet themselves with scruples , if they have so much as made a doubt of their Religion , it is not hard to see them adhere so firmly to the Principles of their Education ▪ which stick so fast to the worst sort of men , that even Atheists themselves , after all the pains they take to get rid of them , cannot shake them off so entirely , but that they will be apt to return oft upon them . It is likewise visible , that all severe Proceedings upon the diversity of Opinions how effectual soever they may be on base-minded men , who will always make Shipwrack of a good Conscience when it comes in competition with the Love of this present World , yet work quite contrariwise on Men of awakened Understandings and generous Souls ; instead of gaining on such Persons , these inspire them with horror at a sort of men who go about to ruin companies of people that never did them hurt .


id: A41563
author: Gordon, Robert, fl. 1669-1675.
date: 1675
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 8170
sentence: 134
flesch: 26
cache: cache/A41563.xml
txt: txt/A41563.txt
title:
  Spiritual order and Christian liberty proved to be consistent in the Churches of Christ and impositions upon the consciences of believers in religious practices found to be antichristian and destructive to both / by R.G. a protestant.

summary:
  But if Persons make Outward Bands of Church-Unity as necessary Conditions of Church Communion , which was not in the first Churches , and impose them contrary to the Apostles Rules of Expediency , Edification , Peace and Charity , obliging all persons in the Church , notwithstanding any unclearness in themselves , to a submissive obedience thereunto , as unto the Judgment of the Spirit of God in the Men's and Women's Meetings , or be denied the Spiritual Fellowship of the Church : In this Case , the standing fast to Christian Liberty , not to be subject to Ordinances after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men , is no breach of the Fundamental Articles of a Christian Society , but a necessary Testimony against Introduced Innovations , contrary to them : for in any Christian Congregation , or Church , though there be not an Uniformity in Outward Practices , because of unclearness in the Consciences of the Disciples , in matters that are not plainly manifest to them all , to be of that weight as utterly to dissolve the Spiritual Union , and break the Fundamental Articles of all Christian Societies , as such , the Congregation , or Church is not to deny the Dissenters her Spiritual Fellowship : Christian Liberty was thus allowed of in the first Churches , and will be so still , where Church Government is not turned into Ecclesiastical , Jurisdiction in the hands of a few Church-Rulers , to uphold their Authority over all in the Church . In which Apostatized State , the Church-Rulers puffed up with Pride and covetousness , never rested until by crafty , sinister , and wicked means , they had established in themselves an Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Supremacy over Emperours and Kings , and the Consciences of all Persons in ( as they pretended ) the whole Catholick Church ; whereby under the Names of Church , Ministry , Ordinances , and Order thereof , the true Church-State , Spiritual Order , true Ministry , and Ordinances of it were quite lost , and the Image of those things , in a Carnal , Worldly , Politick , Ecclesiastical Church-State , erected in the stead thereof : against which in several times and seasons , as it pleased God , he raised up faithful Witnesses , who sealed their testimony against some or other of these introduced Abominations with their Blood : after whom others arose through their Ministry and Sufferings , who running too hastily in their own Wisdoms to build up the Ruines of Zion , out of the Rubbish of Babylon ( which , as accursed stuff , should have been utterly rejected ) God in his infinite Wisdom divided them in their understandings ; so that instead of Building one uniform Ecclesiastick Structure after the Pattern of that of Rome , they were scattered into several Parties and Sects , each pitching a Tabernacle for themselves , and confining God to their Way , or Party .


id: A33722
author: Care, George.
title: Liberty of conscience, asserted and vindicated by a learned country-gentleman ...
date: 1689
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 11724
sentence: 302
flesch: 52
cache: cache/A33722.xml
txt: txt/A33722.txt
summary:
  First , That Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for , the Evidence of Things not seen ; and God would have our Faith to contain in it these difficulties , without which it would lose its real worth and value , the Object whereof would not be as now it is , a Touch-stone and Trial of true Grace and Godliness before God who searcheth the Heart and Reins , and whose Judgment is according to Truth , and to whom it is therefore fit the Judgment of Matters of Faith should be remitted . It is true wicked Men want the Blessing of God to them upon what they possess ; they have not a sanctified use of things , but they have a lawful Title , and 't is as much Theft to steal from them as the best Godly Men in the World.


id: A54203
author: Penn, William, 1644-1718.
date: 1687
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 13924
sentence: 298
flesch: 41
cache: cache/A54203.xml
txt: txt/A54203.txt
title:
  The reasonableness of toleration, and the unreasonableness of penal laws and tests wherein is prov'd by Scripture, reason and antiquity, that liberty of conscience is the undoubted right of every man, and tends to the flourishing of kingdoms and commonwealths, and that persecution for meer religion is unwarrantable, unjust, and destructive to humane society, with examples of both kinds.

summary:
  Yet this must be the main design of those that study thus the destruction of all other Mortals but themselves within the Verge of their Jurisdiction ; which as it is a great Argument of a Spiritual Arbitrary Government , so is it at the same time a sign of no less Presumption for a particular number of Men , enclosed within the narrow Circle of Episcopacy , compar'd with those vast multitudes of Dissenters and Roman-Catholicks , that under various names of distinction invented by their Adversaries , spread themselves over the fourth part of the World , to arrogate to themselves to be the only Flock of Christ ; and that they are the only Pastors who have power to drive men to Heaven ; for this is to disclaim the Popes Supremacy , and usurp it to themselves ; to Preach down one Antichrist , and set up six and twenty : The same is to be said of the Persecutions of Men in their Bodies and Goods ; for others observing the extream Patience and Constancy of so many People suffering for their particular Opinions in matters of Religion , become curious to understand what that Religion should be that inspires men with so much resolution to suffer the worst of Miseries , rather then abandon the Profession of it , which is the reason that Persecutors according to the Opinion of Strada , though they are not concerned in tormenting , yet they dread the Triumphs of the Tormented at their Executions , for that it has been frequently known that one Martyr ● made many Proselytes , by his resolute maintaining to the last , the Profession for which he dyed .


id: A70113
author: Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
date: 1689
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 15146
sentence: 337
flesch: 49
cache: cache/A70113.xml
txt: txt/A70113.txt
title:
  Their highness the Prince & Princess of Orange's opinion about a general liberty of conscience, &c. being a collection of four select papers.

summary:
  My first Reason is the certainest of all Reasons , That it will be His Highnesses interest to settle matters at Home , which only can be done by a Legal Toleration or Comprehension in Matters of Religion ; and by restoring the Civil Liberties of the Nation , so much invaded of late . I. Mijn Heer Fagel's first letter to Mr. Stewart -- II.


id: A86000
author: Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.
date: 1647
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 15843
sentence: 467
flesch: 52
cache: cache/A86000.xml
txt: txt/A86000.txt
title:
  A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianisme, independencie, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.

summary:
  A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647.


id: A62886
author: Tomkins, Thomas, 1637?-1675.
date: 1667
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 18063
sentence: 487
flesch: 59
cache: cache/A62886.xml
txt: txt/A62886.txt
title:
  The inconveniencies of toleration, or, An answer to a late book intituled, A proposition made to the King and Parliament for the safety and happiness of the King and kingdom

summary:
  If the Limitation in the Parenthesis ( I speak as to the Thing , not Degree ) were intended to qualifie the crudeness of this ( otherwise ) wild Assertion , I am content to let it pass : I shall only add , That if we should grant these premisses , he could not infer a Conclusion wide enough for his purpose , because his enumeration of particulars is very Lame ; for , besides , those things which are Duty absolutely , and those which are absolutely Unlawful , there are a sort of things of a middle nature , only Lawful of themselves , but not necessary ; which before the Oath I might have done , but after the Oath I must do ; and this part of the Division ought not to have been forgot , because our great Contest is concerning these things of this middle nature . Sure the Wisdom of all Nations hath been strangely mistaken , if so be , that Promissory Oaths are not things of very great use and Obligation : Solomon , among other Reasons by which he presseth Obedience to Kings , reckons up this as one , and that not the least considerable , in regard of the Oath of God.


id: A37480
author: De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.
date: 1683
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 18686
sentence: 613
flesch: 61
cache: cache/A37480.xml
txt: txt/A37480.txt
title:
  Compulsion of conscience condemned wherein is plainly demonstrated how inconsistent it is with Scripture, the fundamental laws of England, and common equity &c. / by Tho. De-Laune ...

summary:
  — But he is not content Dogmatically to make so Diminutive a Reduction of Christianity , but will also ensure your Soul for you , in these words , — The which [ meaning the said particulars ] whosoever shall humbly and carefully observe , constantly and Conscientiously perform , we [ that we is himself , as if he had been the Representative of the Church of England ] will assure them Salvation , and undertake to Answer to God for them , and be content to stand chargeable with their Blood , if they do miscarry , &c. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.


id: A70175
author: Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.
date: 1645
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 18390
sentence: 802
flesch: 69
cache: cache/A70175.xml
txt: txt/A70175.txt
title:
  Wholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty, or, The true resolution of a present controversie concerning liberty of conscience here you have the question stated, the middle way betwixt popish tyrannie and schismatizing liberty approved and also confirmed from Scripture and the testimonies of divines, yea of whole churches : the chiefe arguments and exceptions used in the bloudy tenent, The compassionate samaritane, M.S. to A.S. &c., examined : eight distinctions added for qualifying and clearing the whole matter : and in conclusion a parænetick to the five apologists for choosing accommodation rather than toleration.

summary:
  Si qui●tale sacrum s●l●nne & necessarium duceret , nec sine religione & piacul●se id omittere pisse apud Prae●orem urbanum profi●er●tur : Praetor Senatum consuleret si ci permissum esset , cum ●n Senatu centum non minus esse●t , ita id sacrum faceret , dum ne plus quinque sacrificio inttressent . A●● veroqui nec re●apsi sunt , nec in pertinac●a perseverunt , nec ali●s perverterunt , licet in r●gore mortem nihilominus promereantur , ordinariè tamen mortis poena assici non s●len● , sed carceris perpetui .


id: A86009
author: Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.
date: 1645
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 18488
sentence: 825
flesch: 70
cache: cache/A86009.xml
txt: txt/A86009.txt
title:
  VVholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversie concerning liberty of conscience. Here you have the question stated, the middle way betwixt popish tyrannie and schismatizing liberty approved, and also confirmed from Scripture, and the testimonies of divines, yea of whole churches: the chiefe arguments and exceptions used in The bloudy tenent, The compassionate samaritane, M.S. to A.S. &c. examined. Eight distinctions added for qualifying and clearing the whole matter. And in conclusion a parænetick to the five apologists for choosing accommodation rather then toleration. Imprimatur. Ia. Cranford. Decemb 16. 1644.

summary:
  Datum deinde consulibus negotium est , ut omnia Bacchanalia Romae primum , deinde per to●am Italium dera●re●e●t : extra qua n●si qua ibi vetusta ara , aut signum consecratu● esset ; in reliquum deinde S. C. c●u●um est , ne qua Ba●chanalia Romae , neve in Ital a esse●t . Abt ●●roqui nec re●apsi sunt , nec in pertinac●a pe●sever●nt , nec ali●s perverterunt , licet in r●gore mortem nihilominus promereantur , ordinariè tamen mortis poena affici non s●len● , sed carceris p●rpetui .


id: A53717
author: Owen, John, 1616-1683.
date: 1667
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 16919
sentence: 359
flesch: 42
cache: cache/A53717.xml
txt: txt/A53717.txt
title:
  A peace-offering in an apology and humble plea for indulgence and liberty of conscience by sundry Protestants differing in some things from the present establishment about the worship of God.

summary:
  Neither doth the addition of ours , disturb the Harmony that is in the Confessions of the Reformed Churches , being in all material points the same with them , and no otherwise differing from any of them in things of less importance , than as they do one from another ; and as all Confessions have done , since the first Introduction of their use into the Churches of God. They relate , as is confessed , unto things spiritual and supernatural : that the will of God in these things cannot be known but by Revelation from himself , all men will acknowledge : and we suppose they will with no less readiness consent , That Divine Revelation cannot be apprehended or assented unto , but according to the nature and measure of that light , which God is pleased to communicate unto them , unto whom such Revelation is made : That this Light doth so equally affect the minds of all men , or that it is possible it should do so , considering the divers ways and means of its communication , with the different dispositions of them that receive it , that they should all have the same apprehensions of the things proposed unto them , none will judge , but such as take up their profession in these things on Custom , Prejudice or Interest .


id: A60972
author: Saltmarsh, John, d. 1647.
date: 1646
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 20428
sentence: 593
flesch: 59
cache: cache/A60972.xml
txt: txt/A60972.txt
title:
  Davvnings of light wherein the true interest of reformation is opened in generall, and in particular, in this kingdome for the establishment of weaker judgements, and many other things impartially hinted, to a further discovery of truth and light in many of our present controversies : with some maximes of reformation / by John Saltmarsh ...

summary:
  That which makes the difference here , is , a disputing about the fittest subject for Church ordinances , and we differ here in point of latitude and qualification ; for on the one side , it is thought that a people nation● 〈…〉 the ●it recipi●nts of all th● 〈…〉 ; on the other side , it 〈…〉 only congre●● 〈…〉 ●●cipie●ts , and 〈…〉 di●ference ; if we 〈…〉 , we shall see that such quali●●●ations are ●●ated by both , and such cautions , as the Ordinances are , but neither prostituted by the one , nor the other , but a due regard had to the predisposing , and preaccommodating to the Ordinances , which are of a pure and heavenly constitution . THere are certain created powers , & qualifications spiritual , natural , and civil , which the infinite supreme Agent makes use on here below ( as I hinted before ) the vertues , gifts and graces , likewise the policie , power and authority , and consociations , all these God takes up , & carries on his interest by them in States and Kingdoms , nor was there ever R●form●tion , but God set it on by such wayes of application , either by eminencie of gifts and inspirations , or by eminencie of power , and some of these he used more eminently at one time , then at another , as in Iosiahs and Asaes , when the coercive authority was the greatest wheel in the Reformation .


id: A54578
author: Dury, John, 1596-1680.
date: 1661
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 18310
sentence: 408
flesch: 44
cache: cache/A54578.xml
txt: txt/A54578.txt
title:
  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.

summary:
  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 . 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 .


id: A17345
author: Busher, Leonard.
date: 1614
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 19789
sentence: 697
flesch: 72
cache: cache/A17345.xml
txt: txt/A17345.txt
title:
  Religions peace or A reconciliation, between princes & peoples, & nations (by Leonard Busher: of the county of Gloucester, of the towne of Wotton, and a citticen, of the famous and most honorable citty London, and of the second right worshipfull Company) supplicated (vnto the hygh and mighty King of great Brittayne: etc: and to the princely and right Honorable Parliament) with all loyalty, humility and carefull fidelity

summary:
  And Christ saith : Teach al nations & 〈◊〉 force al nations : and this teaching is to be vnderstood by the word ād ●●iting of the Prophets and Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Christ which is the Word of God. For if the holi lawes of Gods word be practised and executed after Christs wil , thē , shal neither king , prince nor people be destroyed for differēce in religion : then Treason & Rebelliō , as wel as burn : ban : han : and impri : for difference in religion wil cease and be laid downe , then shal not mē , womē and youth be hāged for theft : then shal not the poore lame , sik and weake ones , be stocked and whipped , neither shal the poore , stranger , fatherlesse ād widowes , be driven to beg frō place to place , neither shal the lame , sik ād weake persons suffer such misery ād be forsaken of their kinred , as now they be , thē shal not murder , whoredō and adultry be bought out for mony : then shal not the greate defraude and wrong the smale , neither the ritch oppresse the poore by usury and litle wages : then shal not men bring vp and i●herit others childrē in steed of their owne , neither shal an honest man be forced to liue with a whore in steed of an honest wife , nor yet an honest women with a whorekeeper in steed of an honest husband 〈◊〉 shal not servāt● be forced from mariage by bonds , nor yet be 〈◊〉 servitude , longer then six yeares , neither shal they be brought vp contrary to covenant , nor posted from one quarter or one yeare to another for their fredom ād in th end be forced to buy it of their Masters , or els to go without it two Then shal neither Prince nor people be disinherited , for not being of the church : neither shal they be held lawlesse persons , though excomunicated neither shal any man dare kil them as now they may , and be quit by law neither shall any man feare to have his mouth stopt for preaching the truth , then shal no man need to flee out of his natiue contry and Fatherland , for persequtions sake : then shal al mē live in peace vnder his owne vyne , lauding and praysing God honoring and obeying the King.


id: A67152
author: Wright, Abraham, 1611-1690.
date: 1668
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 22967
sentence: 957
flesch: 70
cache: cache/A67152.xml
txt: txt/A67152.txt
title:
  Anarchie reviving, or, The good old cause on the anvile being a discovery of the present design to retrive the late confusions both of church and state, in several essays for liberty of conscience / by Abraham Philotheus.

summary:
  That the publick judgment , Civil or Ecclesiasticall , belongs to publick persons onely , and not to any private man ? 5. His last Exception is , That men are forced to swear to a doctrinall Proposition , which we can't be sure of , because man is not infallible . Whoever will reade their Volumes of Fast-Sermons , preached before the Long Parliament , shall find Pope Hildebrand outshot in his own Bow by English Presbyterians . Nor needs there any other Picture then what they have there drawn of themselves , to shew these men of God are in truth but men of War.


id: A36832
author: Du Moulin, Lewis, 1606-1680.
date: 1680
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 28088
sentence: 581
flesch: 40
cache: cache/A36832.xml
txt: txt/A36832.txt
title:
  The conformity of the discipline and government of those who are commonly called independants to that of the ancient primitive Christians by Lewis Du Moulin.

summary:
  THE Gospel it self is not more true than this perswasion of Independants , and that Bishop could not approve of one more reasonable , to wit , that a particular person , or Church , ought not to submit their Faith , their Religion , nor the guidance of their manners to an Authority which is subject to errour , but only to the Word of God , which is an infallible Authority . 2. 'T IS not Schism when a number of Hereticks separate from the Orthodox party of a particular Church ▪ to make a Congregation apart , to the end they may profess their heresie with greater liberty , but it is an Apostasie , and an abandoning and forsaking of the Orthodox faith , or Church of Jesus Christ , which is Catholick and visible : and upon this ground the Church of Rome is not a Schismatical , but an Apostate Church ; although it be one for the first reason , because that what ingagement or tye soever all its Members have to one head , however they are not all agreed together .


id: A30329
author: Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
title: A collection of papers against popery and arbitrary government written by G. Burnet.
date: 1689
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 29724
sentence: 505
flesch: 36
cache: cache/A30329.xml
txt: txt/A30329.txt
summary:
  Upon the whole Matter , it can never enter into my mind , that God , who has made Man a Creature , that naturally enquires and reasons , and that feels as sensible a pleasure when he can give himself a good account of his actions , as one that sees , does perceive in comparison to a blind man that is led about ; and that this God , that has also made Religion on design to perfect this humane Nature , and to raise it to the utmost height to which it can arrive , has contrived it to be dark , and to be so much beyond the penetration of our Faculties , that we cannot find out his mind in those things that are necessary for our Salvation : and that the Scriptures , that were writ by plain men , in a very familiar stile , and addrest without any discrimination to the Vulgar , should become such an unintelligible Book in these Ages , that we must have an Infallible Iudge to expound it : and when I see not only Popes , but even some Bodies that pass for General Councils , have so expounded many passages of it , and have wrested them so visibly , that none of the Modern Writers of that Church pretend to excuse it , I say I must freely own to you , that when I find I need a Commentary on dark passages , these will be the last persons to whom I will address my self for it . Church and state -- England.


id: A45421
author: Hammond, Henry, 1605-1660.
date: 1644
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 36448
sentence: 802
flesch: 47
cache: cache/A45421.xml
txt: txt/A45421.txt
title:
  Of resisting the lavvfull magistrate under colour of religion and appendant to it, of the word keima, rendred damnation, Rom. 13, reprinted : also, [brace] of zelots among the Jewes, of taking up the crosse, a vindication of Christs reprehending St. Peter, from the exceptions of Mr. Marshall.

summary:
  Notes for div A45421e-5570 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} . Here , say they , {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} judgement , is that that befalls the house of God , the godly ; therefore but temporall judgements .


id: A61876
author: Stubbes, Henry, 1606?-1678.
date: 1675
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 43677
sentence: 3434
flesch: 94
cache: cache/A61876.xml
txt: txt/A61876.txt
title:
  A disswasive from conformity to the world as also God's severity against impenitent sinners : with a farewel sermon lately preached to a congregation in London / by Henry Stubs.

summary:
  This is a taking of Gods name i● vain , which God will not suffer to go unpunished , Exod. A lot is a Religious ordinance of God , because it is an ap●ealing to Divine providence , what ever the matter be about which 't is conversant , Prov. 16. 33.


