A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

The point being now so fully cleared from Scripture, here is the less reason to argue contrariwise from human examples in Christian States and Common-wealths.¹ The word of God must not stoop to mens practises, but they to it. Yet even among those whose examples is alleged for the contrary opinion, there want not instances for cautiousness and conscientiousness, in choosing or refusing confederates. As namely among the Helvetians or Switzers. They of Zurik and Berne, when once reformed, renounced their League made before with the French King, for assisting him in his Wars, and resolved only to keep peace with him; but would not continue the League of [Greek or Hebrew], or joining with him in his Wars.² And whatsoever were the old Leagues about 300. years ago, mutually binding those Cantons each to other for aid and succour, and for the common defence of their country, and for preservation of their particular rights and liberties, and for a way of deciding controversies and pleas, between men of one Canton and of another (which Leagues are recorded by those that write of that Common-wealth) yet after the Reformation of Religion, there was so much zeal on both sides, that it grew to a war between the Popish and the Protestant Cantons, wherein as the Popish side strengthened themselves ⟨p. 190⟩by a confederacy with Ferdinand the Emperors brother, so³ the Protestant side, Zurik, Berne, and Basil entered into a confederacy, first with the city of Strasburgh, and shortly thereafter with the Landgrave of Hesse, that thereby they might be strengthened, and aided against the Popish Cantons. The differences of Religion put them to it, to choose other confederates. Nevertheless, I can easily admit what Lavater judiciously observeth, upon Ezek. 16. 26, 27, 28, 29. that Covenants made before true Religion did shine among a people, are not to be rashly broken; even as the believing husband, ought not to put away the unbelieving wife, whom he married when himself also was an unbeliever, if she be willing still to abide with him. Whatsoever may be said for such Covenants, yet confederacies with enemies of true Religion, made after the light of Reformation, are altogether unexcusable.