§. 12. And this over-doing and making unnecessary terms, unavoidably involveth them in the guilt of persecution; and when they have begun it, they know not where to stop. Suppose ⟨p. 122⟩they decree that none shall preach the Gospel, or assemble for holy Communion in public Worship, but those that subscribe or swear or promise or profess or do, somewhat accounted sinful by the persons commanded, and not necessary indeed, however esteemed by the imposer (who yet perhaps calls it but Indifferent). It is certain that no honest Christian will do that which he judgeth to be sin: It is certain that other mens confident talk will not make all men of their minds, to take all for lawful which they take for such: what then will the Imposers do? They will make strict Laws to punish severely all that disobey: For say they, Our commands must not be contemned, nor disobedience tolerated: so do the Papists as to the Trent Oath, &c. so did Charles the fifth, a while about the Interim; and so many others. These Laws then must be executed: The Pastors must be cast out; the preachers silenced; They still believe as Daniel did about praying, and the Apostles about preaching, that God commandeth what men forbid, and it is a damnable sin to forsake their calling and duty, no less than sacrilege, and cruelty to souls, and deserting the Church and worship and cause of Christ; and the people will still believe that no mans prohibition can excuse them if they forsake Gods public worship and comply with sin. The Prelates will say that all this is but error, wilfulness, and rebellion, and they can prove the contrary. Their words will not change the judgement of dissenters. The Pastors and preachers then must be fined, imprisoned or banished for preaching, and the people for public worshipping God: when they are fined they will go on: when they are out of prison they will return to their work: nothing is left then to remedy it, but either perpetual imprisonment, banishment or death. ⟨p. 123⟩When this is done, more will still rise of the same mind and continue the work that others were disabled to perform: And the Prelates that cause this will be taken by the suffering people for thorns and thistles, and grievous Wolves that devour the flocks, and the military Ministers of the Devil:
§. 12. And this over-doing and making unnecessary termes, unavoidably involveth them in the guilt of persecution; and when they have begun it, they know not where to stop. Suppose ⟨p. 122⟩they decree that none shall preach the Gospel, or assemble for holy Communion in publick Worship, but those that subscribe or swear or promise or profess or do, somewhat accounted sinful by the persons commanded, and not necessary indeed, however esteemed by the imposer (who yet perhaps calls it but Indifferent). It is certain that no honest Christian will do that which he judgeth to be sin: It is certain that other mens confident talk will not make all men of their minds, to take all for lawful which they take for such: what then will the Imposers do? They will make strict Laws to punish severely all that disobey: For say they, Our commands must not be contemned, nor disobedience tolerated: so do the Papists as to the Trent Oath, &c. so did Charles the fifth, a while about the Interim; and so many others. These Laws then must be executed: The Pastors must be cast out; the preachers silenced; They still believe as Daniel did about praying, and the Apostles about preaching, that God commandeth what men forbid, and it is a damnable sin to forsake their calling and duty, no less than sacriledge, and cruelty to souls, and deserting the Church and worship and cause of Christ; and the people will still believe that no mans prohibition can excuse them if they forsake Gods publick worship and comply with sin. The Prelates will say that all this is but errour, wilfulness, and rebellion, and they can prove the contrary. Their words will not change the judgement of dissenters. The Pastors and preachers then must be fined, imprisoned or banished for preaching, and the people for publick worshipping God: when they are fined they will go on: when they are out of prison they will return to their work: nothing is left then to remedy it, but either perpetual imprisonment, banishment or death. ⟨p. 123⟩When this is done, more will still rise of the same mind and continue the work that others were disabled to perform: And the Prelates that cause this will be taken by the suffering people for thorns and thistles, and grievous Wolves that devour the flocks, and the military Ministers of the Devil:
