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…

1. Object. The Covenant ought not to be compulsory but free: Good things grow evil when mens consciences are thereunto forced▪ Answ. 1. An Ordinance enjoining the taking of it under a certain penalty, were no other compulsion, then was used by King Josiah and others, yea by this present Parliament upon their own Members, and upon Ministers to be ordained, as is evident by the passages above expressed. The Parliament hath also by their Ordinance dated the 23. of August 1645. imposed the Directory of Worship under certain mulcts and penalties to be inflicted upon such as do not observe it, or preach or write against it. 2. Tis no tyranny over men's consciences, to punish a great and scandalous sin (such as the refusing and opposing of the Covenant, or a dividing from it) although the offender in his conscience believe it to be no sin, yea peradventure believe it to be a duty. Otherwise it had been tyranny over the Conscience to punish those who killed the Apostles, because they thought they were doing God good service, Joh: 16, 2. Thirdly, if they who make this Objection be so tender of mens consciences, why would they keep up an Army when there is no Enemy, and continue taxes and burdens upon the exhausted Counties, which are altogether against the consciences of the generality of people in the Kingdom. If in these things they will have the conscience of any to be forced, and in the Covenant the consciences of some left at liberty, this is not fair and equal, and it will be generally apprehended, that such men study their own interest more then the Public.

1. Object. The Covenant ought not to be compulsory but free: Good things grow evill when mens consciences are thereunto forced Answ. 1. An Ordinance injoyning the taking of it under a certain penalty, were no other compulsion, then was used by King Iosiah and others, yea by this present Parliament upon their own Members, and upon Ministers to be ordained, as is evident by the passages above expressed. The Parliament hath also by their Ordinance dated the 23. of August 1645. imposed the Directory of Worship under certain mulcts and penalties to be inflicted upon such as do not observe it, or preach or write against it. 2. Tis no tyranny overmens consciences, to punish a great and scandalous sin (such as the refusing and opposing of the Covenant, or a divyding from it) althogh the offender in his conscience believe it to be no sin, yea peradventur believe it to be a duety. Otherwise it had been tyranny over the Conscience to punish those who killed the Apostles, because they thought they were doing God good service, Ioh: 16, 2. Thirdly, if they who make this Objection be so tender of mens consciences, why would they keep up an Army when there is no Enemy, and continue taxes and burthens upon the exhausted Counties, which are altogether against the consciences of the generality of people in the Kingdome. If in these things they will have the conscience of any to be forced, and in the Covenant the consciences of some left at liberty, this is not fair and equall, and it will be generally apprehended, that such men study their own interest more then the Publick.