Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors][merged small]

PROPOSAL
Humbly offered for the Farming

Liberty of Confcience.

Written in the Year 1663. By Samuel Butler, Author of Hudibras.

S 1202

INCE nothing can be dearer unto poor Chriftians than Liberty, or the free exercife of their Judgments and Confciences, the purfuit of which Happiness hath kindled that fire in the Bowels of the Three Kingdoms, which all the precious Blood that hath been fhed, during the late Troubles, hath not been able totally to extinguifh: And fince many of Us, whofe Names are affixed, were

fo

fo profitably inftrumental in thofe late Combuftions, as appears all along in our Sermons before the Honourable Houfe of Parliament, in the Years 1642, 43, 44, 45, 46, in exciting the good People of this Nation, to feek and maintain their Chriftian Liberty, against all Prelatical and Antichriftian Impofition whatfoever. And confidering that the Little Finger of Apoftacy from our firft Love, would be a greater Burden upon our Tender Confciences, than the Loyns of Epifcopacy. We being moré bound in Honour than Confcience, can not totally defift; neither need any Man fear, or fo much as fufpect, left any Inconvenience or Alteration fhould happen in Religion, by the great diverfity of Opinions, Tongues, and Languages, tolerated among us, unless in the great Babel of Epifcopacy, that may poffibly be pulled down and deftroyed by this our notable Confufion; for, if the Gofpel was wonderfully fpread abroad by every Mans fpeaking in his own Language, and the very Enemies thereof aftonished, and miraculoudly wrought into a Belief of it; how it is likely to be now obftructed in the free exercife of our Spiritual Gifts, with

the

thefe our cloven and divided Tongues. And fince many worthy Perfons, from whom we might little expect it, but far lefs deferve it, out of their Goodness and Clemency, are pleafed to encline to fome Liberty, did not fome Perfons, Aliens and Strangers to the Commonwealth of Ifrael, take up a Reproach against us, as Perfons reprobated into an unpoffibility of fubmiffion to Principles of Concord, Peace, and Order, in Church or State, never being able hitherto to come to any Confistency amongst our felves; the Ark of God having for twenty Years together, been expofed to By-ways, Streets, and worfe places, for want of an Agreement amongst our own Brethren where to rest it, or how to entertain it. If this be our Cafe, and could we be fure of fo much Favour as Saul once defired of Samuel, that the Bishops would but bonour us before the People, we would in a private Chriftian way, lay our Hands upon our Hearts, and acknowledge the hand of God, and the Juftice thereof, in turning us out of his Vineyard, as wicked and unprofitable Servants, and to fuffer the Iniquity of our Heels to overtake us; crying out with

Reverend Mr.Calamy, The Ark of God is justly departed from us; but being. not yet thus allured, do hope the People will yet believe thefe to be only Bears-fkins lap'd about us by Epifcopal Hands: And therefore, to the end that a Confiftency, and Oneness of Judg ment of the whole feparating Brethren, and their Moderation, may be known unto all Men, and that the World may know, that there is a Spirit of Rufe and Government refting in us;

IT

Tis humbly propofed to the fole Power of granting Licenfes and Indulgences for Liberty of Confcience, within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick, may be vefted in the Perfons under-named, for the Term of feven Years, under the Farm Rent of an Hundred Thousand Pounds per An. to commence from the twenty-fifth Day of March next, under fuch Rates and Qualifications as are hereafter Specified.

[ocr errors]

The Names of the Grand Commiffioners and Farmers of Liberty of Confcience; propofed on Monday March 2. 1662, being the Day of a private Faft, kept by Mr. Calamy, Mr. Baxter, and others, at Mr. Beal's Houfe, near My Lord of Ely's Chappel, in Holbourn.

Mr. Edmund Calamy.

Mr. Tilham, late of Colehefter.
Mr. Philip Nye.

Mr. Feak.

Mr. Stanley of Dorchefter.

George Fox, Executor of the Laft Willand Teftament of James Nailor, deceased.

Dr. Lazarus Seaman.

Mr. Dell, late of Cambridge.

Dr. Owen.

Mr. Bryan, late of Coventry.
Mr. Matthew Mead.

Mr. John Coppin.

Dr. Manton.

Mr. Kiffen.

The Executor of Mr. Venner, lately

Executed.

Mr. Thomas Cafe.

Mr. Regnor, late of Lincoln.

Mr.

« НазадПродовжити »