A26947:1329
A key for Catholics, to open the juggling of the Jesuits, and satisfy all…A key for Catholicks, to open the jugling of the Jesuits, and satisfie all…
A key for Catholics, to open the juggling of the Jesuits, and satisfy all that are but truly willing to understand, whether the cause of the Roman or reformed churches be of God ... containing some arguments by which the meanest may see the vanity of popery, and 40 detections of their fraud, with directions, and materials sufficient for the confutation of their voluminous deceits ... : the second part showeth (especially against the French and Grotians) that the Catholic Church is not united in any merely humane head, either Pope or council / by Richard Baxter, a Catholic Christian and Pastor of a church ...A key for Catholicks, to open the jugling of the Jesuits, and satisfie all that are but truly willing to understand, whether the cause of the Roman or reformed churches be of God ... containing some arguments by which the meanest may see the vanity of popery, and 40 detections of their fraud, with directions, and materials sufficient for the confutation of their voluminous deceits ... : the second part sheweth (especially against the French and Grotians) that the Catholick Church is not united in any meerly humane head, either Pope or council / by Richard Baxter, a Catholick Christian and Pastor of a church ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. This Liberty is not Desirable for it self, but as a means to that end which is so Desirable. And therefore it is no further desirable then it tendeth to that end. And a partial Toleration of them, that tolerate not us, is so far from being such a means, as that it is the next way to destroy the end that we desire, it will but put our necks under their feet, and open our bosoms to their Swords, and so make our desired Peace impossible. No friend of the Gospel and Reformed Churches will prosecute that motion.
2. Others will say, It is unlawful to grant such a Liberty to Papists, because it is false doctrine which they will preach, and Idolatry which they will exercise; and we must not do evil that good may come by it.
2. Others will say, It is unlawful to grant such a Liberty to Papists, because it is false doctrine which they will preach, and Idolatry which they will exercise; and we must not do evill that good may come by it.
Answ. We may do no evil, but we may omit that which at another time is a duty, in a season when it is no duty. To punish such offenders is a positive duty, which at all times is not a duty, but unseasonably performed is a sin. For a Magistrate therefore to punish such offenders, when it apparently tendeth to hinder the progress of the Gospel, and overthrow the peace and safety of the Christian State, is not a Duty, but a sin. Would any of these Objectors be against a Magistrates releasing of a Jesuit out of Prison, in exchange for a faithful Minister of the Gospel, especially of many; as prisoners are commonly exchanged in war? If not, why should they be against the releasing of such a man to higher ends, even to save mens souls? To give Liberty is but to Permit, or not to Hinder, or not to Punish: and therefore is but the not doing of a work when it is unseasonable (as Sacrifice is when God requireth Mercy.) And he that may Permit, or forbear to punish, may on a just reason promise so to do. So that this is but forbearing the punishing of Papists, when we cannot punish them without the exceeding hurt of the Church, and wrong to many thousand souls.