The blovdy tenent, of persecution, for cause of conscience, discussed, in a conference betweene trvth and peace vvho, in all tender affection, present to the high court of Parliament, as the result of their discourse, these, amongst other passages, of highest consideration.

CHAP. III.

Truth.

IN the Answer Mr. Cotton first layes downe severall distin∣ctions and conclusions of his owne, tending to prove persecu∣tion.

Secondly, Answers to the Scriptures, and Arguments proposed a∣gainst persecution.

Peace.

The first distinction is this:* 1.1 By persecution for cause of Con∣science,

I conceive you meane either for professing some point of doctrine which you beleeve in conscience to be the truth, or for practi∣sing some worke which you beleeve in conscience to be a religious dutie.

Truth.

I acknowledge that to molest any person,* 1.2 Iew or Gentile, for either professing doctrine, or practising worship meerly religious or spiri∣tuall, it is to persecute him, and such a person (what ever his doctrine or practice be true or false) suffereth persecution for conscience.

But withall I desire it may bee well observed, that this distinction is not full and complete: For beside this that a man may be persecuted

because he holdeth or practiseth what he beleeves in conscience to be a Truth, (as Daniel did, for which he was cast into the Lyons den. Dan. 6.) and many thousands of Christians, because they durst not cease to preach and practise what they beleeved was by Go•• commanded,* 1.3 as the Apostles answered (Acts 4 & 5.) I say besides this a man may also be persecuted, because hee dares not be constrained to yeeld obedience to such doctrines and worships as are by men invented and appointed. So the three famous Iewes were cast into the fiery furnace for refusing to fall downe (in a non-conformity to the whole conforming world) be∣fore the golden Image, Dan. 3. 21. So thousands of Christs witnesses (and of late in those bloudy Marian dayes) have rather chose to yeeld their bodies to all sorts of torments, then to subscribe to doctrines, or practise worships, unto which the States and Times (as Nabuchadnezzar to his golden Image) have compelled and urged them.

A chaste wife will not onely abhorre to be restrained from her hus∣bands bed,* 1.4 as adulterous and polluted, but also abhor (if not much more) to bee constrained to the bed of a stranger. And what is abominable in corporall, is much more loathsome in spirituall whoredome and defilement.

The Spouse of Christ Iesus who could not finde her soules beloved in the wayes of his worship and Ministery, (Cant. 1. 3. and 5. Chapters) abhorred to turne aside to other Flockes, Worships, &c. and to imbrace the bosome of a false Christ, Cant. 1. 8.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first distinctiō discussed.
• * 1.2

  Desiniti∣on of per∣secution discussed.
• * 1.3

  Consci∣ence will not be re∣strained from its own wor¦ship, nor constrai∣ned to an∣other.
• * 1.4

  A chaste soule in Gods worship like a chast wife.