The principles of Protestant truth and peace in four treatises : viz. the true state of liberty of conscience, in freedom from penal laws and church-censures, the obligations to national true religion, the nature of scandal, paricularly as it relates to indifferent things, a Catholick catechism, shewing the true grounds upon which the Catholick religion is ascertained / by Tho. Beverley ...

Title

The principles of Protestant truth and peace in four treatises : viz. the true state of liberty of conscience, in freedom from penal laws and church-censures, the obligations to national true religion, the nature of scandal, paricularly as it relates to indifferent things, a Catholick catechism, shewing the true grounds upon which the Catholick religion is ascertained / by Tho. Beverley ...

Author

Beverley, Thomas.

Publication

London :: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and Will. Miller ...,

1683.

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Subject terms

Catholic Church -- Controversial literature.

Liberty of conscience -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A27637.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The principles of Protestant truth and peace in four treatises : viz. the true state of liberty of conscience, in freedom from penal laws and church-censures, the obligations to national true religion, the nature of scandal, paricularly as it relates to indifferent things, a Catholick catechism, shewing the true grounds upon which the Catholick religion is ascertained / by Tho. Beverley ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A27637.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 21, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• To the Reader.
• The Contents.
• ERRATA.
• treatise
  • Object. Before I pass on, I shall only remove one Obje∣ction which may seem a very great one, viz. That our Saviour saith by way of surprize upon any such expecta∣tions, Suppose ye that I am come to send or give peace on the earth? Think not so, I came not to send peace on the earth; I tell you, nay; but rather division, and a sword and a fire; For I am come to set a man at variance, &c. and from henceforth there shall be five in one house, divided three against two, and two against three, &c.
  • Object. 1. Every False Religion, or refusal of the True Religion in a Nation, not vindicated by due severity upon Of∣fenders, is an offence against the Divine Majesty, of a National Guilt, and brings down National Judgments.
  • Object. 2. What Peace can there be in the world amongst private and particular persons, while there are several opini∣ons in Religion? how many Disputes, and Calumnies, and Inve∣ctives are continually flying up and down by reason of differen∣ces in Religion? and how much better are all compelled into Ʋnion?
  • Object. 3. This clips off the Royalty and Prerogative of Princes, if they have not the command of mens Senti∣ments, or at least of their outward Actions and Practises in Religion.
  • Object. 4. But it is impossible to govern with any security, if Governours hold not the Reins of mens Consciences, if they have not the Rule of that Helm, that turns about so great Bodies of people, which way soever they that have that Pylotry please, with what vigor and courage are men anima∣ted while the Principles and Rewards of Religion are in their hearts and eyes? If therefore the Prince rules not in these, his Command is but Cypher.
  • Object. 5. But what Tumults, Factions, Seditions, have been rais'd under Religious pretences, when Subjects have not yielded themselves to the Empire of Princes in Re∣ligion?
  • Object. 6. But what a Hydra, a many-headed Monster of Opinions, will Religion become by such a Toleration?
• True Religion the Interest of Nations, or National Religion Demonstrated to be the Duty of Nations, &c.
• title page
• THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
• THE Woe of Scandal.
  • Object. 1. If Scandal were an Argument against things, we must go out of all things, even out of the World, nay, out of Religion it self; for all things are full of Scandal, even the best things.
  • Object. 2. The Apostle himself was enforced to change his Voice concerning Indulgence to the weak, in the Judaique Rites, and to vote the persisting in a Love to them damnable; and the Holy Spirit brands the Idolothytes conceded by the Apostle, to be afterwards the Doctrine of Balaam: So that the Weakness of Consciences about Indifferent Things becomes so masterless, unruly, and headstrong, as to indanger main Concernments in Religion, if not reformed, the due time of Indulgence being allowed for it.
  • Object. 4. The Rites used are such as are recommended from Antiquity, and were of use of old, in the Primitive Church.
  • Object. 5. The Commands of Lawful Authority take away the Indifferency, and make Necessary, what was before Indifferent.
  • Obj. 6. But when time is allowed to the Doubtful to sa∣tisfy themselves, if they come not off from their Scruples, it argues Humor and Faction are highest in the Case; or a Superstition on the other side.
  • Object. 7. Order and Government in the Church, or Na∣tional Religion, cannot be preserv'd without such Guards up∣on both Piety, Order, and Unity; for besides that Publick Authority hath thought them fit, there are many private Chri∣stians zealous of them, and that would be scandalised, if they were taken away, as if the Precept of the Apostle were broken, Let all things be done Decently, and in Or∣der; and of them greatest care is to be had, as owning the Publique Authority most.
• ERRATA.
• Printed for Tho. Parkhurst.
• typewritten title page
• THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
• THE CONTENTS.
• A Catholick Catechism,
  • CAP. I. Of the Perfect and First State of Humane Nature, with relation to Catholick, or Publick Religion.
  • CAP. II. Of the Violation of this Catholick Order of Religion, and the Means provided by God to restore it.
  • CAP. III. Of the Uncontroversible Laws of Natural Religion.
  • CAP. IV. Of Revelation, and the Reasons of so great Miscarriages against both the Light of Nature and Revelation, with the Means of Cure.
  • CAP. V. Of the Publick or Divine Original of Sacred Writing, or Scripture.
  • CAP. VI. Of the Proof of Scripture, That it is of God; and that the Proof also is Publick and Divine.
  • CAP. VII. Of the Publick Interpretation of Scripture.
  • CAP. VIII. Of Tradition and Antiquity.
  • CAP. IX. Of the Church-Catholick.
  • CAP. X. Of the Officers appointed by Christ in his Church.
  • CAP. XI. Of every Man's Obligation to be wise for himself to Salvation.
  • CAP. XII. Of Schism and Scandal.
  • CAP. XIII. Of the Anti-Church, and its Opposition in every Thing to the True Church.
  • CAP. XIV. Of the Power of Magistrates in Religion, and of National Religion.
• ERRATA.