Religion's Peace

p. 6Certayne reasons against perseqution.

FIrst, because Christ hath not commanded any King, Bishop, or Minister to persequte the people, for difference and judgment in matter of Religion.

Secondly, because Christ hath commanded his Bishops and ministers p. 7to perswade Prince and people to heare and beleeve the gospell, by his◊ word and spirit, and (as Ambassadors for him) to beseech both Prince ād people, [2. Cor. 5. 20] to be reconciled vnto God, and not (as Tyrants) to force and cō strayne them by perseqution.

Thirdly, [many thousand Ambassadors & martyr • of Christ hath Bbs • caused to be slaine since Ch • ascended.] because through perseqution it wil come to passe that the Ambassadors of the onely spiritual Lord & King Iesus, may be persequted and inprisoned, burned, haged or bānished, for deliuering the message of their gratious Lord, sentearly and often, both to Prince and people: which to doe, is a more heynous fact then to persequte the Ambassadors of the greatest King and Prince in the World: for insteed of hereticks, they shal (as they have alredy) burne, bannish, and hang the Ambassadors of the Lord Iesus Christ: who doth choose out whom he pleaseth, to beare his name before Kings & Rulers, for a Testimonial to them.

Fourthly, [Marc. 13. 9▪] because then we cannot say, we have the liberty of the Gospell in our Land, [Persequtiō destroy Christians, but not errors] seing where that is, there is no perseqution for any difference in Religion, nor force◊ing of the conscience to beleeve the gospel, except by the word and spirit of God onely, the which doe wound and kill the ◊rrors of men and not their persons.

Fiftly, [2. cor. 10. 4] because Christ came into the world to fave sinners, ād not to destroy them, [1. Tym. 1. 13. 15.] though they be blasphemers, seing the Lord may convert them as he did Saule (after caled Paul) and though they have difference in Religion, [Luc. 9. 53. 55.] or wil not heare nor beleeve in Christ, that they may be converted, yet ought you not to persequte them, seing Christ rebuketh such and his Father sent him not into the world, [Persequtors rebuked of Christ.] to condemne the world, but to saue it be ye followers therefore of Christ, and not of Antychrist, in gathering people to the Faith.

p. 7Sixtly, [1. Cor. 10. 32.] because then you shal not walke wisely towards thē that are without as the Scripture teacheth but shal offend also the Iewes▪ and al other strāgers who account it Tyranny, [Col. 4. 5.] to have their consciences forced to religion by perseqution.

Seaventhly, because if perseqution be not laid downe, and liberty of cō science set vp, then cannot the Iewes, nor any strangers, nor others contrary mynded be ever converted in our Land: for so long as they know a forehand, that they shalbe forced to beleeve against their consciences, they wil never seeke to inhabit there: by which meanes you keep them from the Apostoliq saith, if the Apostoliq faith bee onely taught where perseqution is.

Eightly, because if freedom of conscience be not set vp, and perseqution laid downe, then al the Kings subjects, and al strangers inhabiting the p. 8Land (that shal beleeve the Apostoliq faith) must depart the land to som free contry, [Persequtiō • lo make • any strā • ers.] or els abide the danger of burning, bannishing, hanging and imprisoning: the first, will bee a great impoverishing and weakning of our land, besides a losse of the faithfullest subjects and freinds: the secōd wil provoke the lord to wrath, by spilling the bloud of his faithful servants, Ambassadors and witnesses, and also open the mouthes of al strā gers, to speake yet more lamentably, of the cruel and bloudy perseqution of our Land.

Ninthly, because if perseqution contynue, then the King ād State shal have (against their wils) many dissemblers in Authority and office, both in court Citty and contrye, yea no man of any degre shal know whether they are al faithful and true Christiās, that are about him, ād with whō he hath to doe, seing most men wil conforme themselves, for feare of perseqution, although in their harts, they hate ād detest the religiō wherto they are forced by law, the which is very dangerous and hartful, both to King and State in tyme of temtation, from bejond the seas, and in rebellion at home: for they that are not faithful to God, in their Religiō wil never bee faithful to the King and State in their alegiance, specialy being tryed by a greate reward, or by a myghty rebel: but will (to encrase their honors and reverennues) conforme themselves, and fome to save their honors, Lands, goods and lives) wil yeeld and submit, though against their wils, even as they have done in case of Religion: for through forceing men to Church by perseqution, the true hearted subjects, are forced out of the Land, and out of the World, som bannished, others burned, hanged, and imprisoned to death.

p. 8Tenthly, [• ersequtiō •• usemani •• ligions. 〈◊〉 the • hurch.] because then, if there be many religions in the land (as it is wel knowen there are) it wil com to passe (through the continance of perseqution) that many religions wilbe continued in the Church, seeing al are forced to Church, who bring their religions with them, as wel as their bodies, wherby al their devotion is against their consciences, and all the Church is a confused Babel, ful of every vncleane & hateful bird, even a hold of soule Spirits, [• v. 18. 2. 4] as the Scripture speaketh: out of which the people of God are Commanded to flee, least (as of their sins) they bee also pertakers of their plague. [•• eter were to have • any reli • ōs in the • nd, thē in •• le Churc:] And the Bishops (the Authors of perseqution) are very ignorant to thinke that when they have gotten people to their Church, by perseqution, that then they have gotten them to their saith and religion, the which is nothing so, for most people (though contrary mynded) to save life and goods wil dissemble their religion, as for example the Iewes in Spaine and Portugale, and the Papists, Reformists, and others in England, but when they com hether, or to som other free Citty or Country (where praised be God is liberty of the gospel) then they shew, that before they dissembled to avoyd the cruel perseqution of our land.