TOLLERATION (for these ten years past) has not been more the Cry of some, then PERSECUTION hath been the practice of others, though not on Grounds equally rational.
The present cause of this Address, is to solicite a Conversion of that Power to our Relief, which hitherto has been imployd to our Depression; that after this large experience of our innocency, and long since expir'd Apprentiship of Cruel Sufferings, you will(?) be pleased to cancel all our Bonds, and give [...] of those Freedoms, to which we are [...] English Birthright.
This has been often promised to us, and we as earnestly have expected the performance; but to this time we labour under the unspeakable pressure of Nasty Prisons, and daily Confiscation of our Goods, to the apparent ruin of intire Families.
We would not attribute the whole of this severity to Malice, since not a little share, may justly be ascrib'd to Mis-intelligence:
For 'tis the infelicity of Governors to see and hear by the Eyes and Ears of other men; which is equally unhappy for the People.
And we are bold to say, that Suppositions and meer Conjectures, have been the best Measures, that most have taken of Us, and of our Principles; for whilst there have been none more inoffensive, we have been mark't for Capital Offenders.
'Tis hard that we should alwayes lie under this undeserved imputation; and which is worse, be Persecuted as such, without the Liberty of a just Defence.
In short, if you are apprehensive, that our Principles are inconsistant with the Civil Government, grant us a free Conference about the Points in Question, and let us know, what are those Laws, essential to preservation, that our Opinions carry an opposition to? And if upon a due enquiry we
And as this Medium seems the fairest, and most reasonable; so can you never do your selves greater Justice, either in the vindication of your proceedings against us, be we Criminal, or if Innocent, in dis-ingaging your service of such, as have been Authours of so much Mis-information.
But could we once obtain the favour of such debate, we doubt not to evince a clear consistency of our Life and Doctrine with the English Government; and that an indulging of Dissenters in the Sence defended, is not only most Christian and Rational, but Prudent also. And the contrary (how plausibly soever insinuated) the most injurious to the Peace and destructive of that discreet Ballance, which the Best and Wisest States, have ever carefully Observ'd.
But if this fair and equal Offer, find not a place with you, on which to rest its Foot; much less
Vincit qui patitur.
Newgate, the 7th of the 12th Moneth, call'd February, 1670.
From a Prisoner for Conscience Sake,
W. P.
Were some as Christian, as they boast themselves to be, 'twould save us all the Labour we bestow in rendring Persecution so unchristian, as it most truly is: Nay were they those men of Reason they Character themselves, and what the Civil Law stiles good Citizens, it had been needless for us to tell them, that neither can any external Coercive Power convince the understanding of the poorest Idiot, nor Fines and Prisons be judg'd fit, and adequate Penalties for Faults purely intellectual; as well as that they are destructive of all civil Government.
But we need not run so far as beyond the Seas, to fetch the sense of the Codes, Institutes, and Digests, out of the Corpus Civile to adjudge such practices, incongruous with the good of civil society, since our own good, old, admirable Laws of England, have made such excellent provision for its Inhabitants, that if they were but thought as fit to be executed by this present Age, as they were lightly judg'd necessary to be made by our careful Ancestors: We know how great a Stroak they would give such, as venture to lead away our Property in Triumph (as our just Forfeiture) for only Worshipping our God in a differing Way, from that which is more generally Profest and Establisht.
And indeed it is most truly lamentable, That above others (who have been found in so Un-natural and Anti-christian an Imployment) those, that by their own frequent Practices and voluminous Appologies, have defended a Separation from the Papacy) should now become such earnest Persecuters for it, not considering, that the Enaction of such Laws, as restrain Persons from the free Exercise of their Consciences, in matters of Religion, is but a knotting Whip cord to lash their own Posterity; whom
Not that we are so ignorant, as to think is within the reach of humane Power to fetter Conscience, or to restrain its Liberty strictly taken: But that plain English, of Liberty of Conscience, we would be understood to mean, is this; namely, The Free and Uninterrupted Exercise of our Consciences, in that Way of Worship, we are most clearly parswaded, God requires us to serve him in (without endangering our undoubted Birthright of English Freedoms) which being matter, of FAITH, we Sin if we omit, and they can't do less, that shall endeavour it.
To tell us, we are Obstinate and Enemies to Government, are but those Groundless Phrases, the first Reformers were not a little pestered with; but as they said, so say we, The being call'd this, or that, does not conclude us so; and hitherto we have not been detected of that Fact, which only justifies, such Criminations.
But however free we can approve our selves of Actions prejudicial of the Civil Government; 'tis most certain we have not suffered a little, as Criminals, and therefore have been far
And we are bold to say, the grand Fomenters of Persecution, are no better Friends to the English State, then were Anytus and Aristophanes of old to that of Athens, the Case being so nearly the same, as that they did not more bitterly envy the Reputation of Socrates amongst the Athenians for his grave and religious Lectures (thereby giving the Youth a diversion from frequenting their Plays) then some now emulate the true Dissenter, for his Pious Life, and great Industry.
And as that famous Commonwealth was noted to decline, and the most observing Persons of it, dated its decay from that illegal and ingrateful Carriage towards Socrates (witness their dreadful Plagues, with other multiply'd Disasters) So is it not less worthy Observation, that Heaven hath not been wholly wanting to scourge this Land, for, as well as their Cruelty to the Conscientious, as their other multiply'd Provocations.
And when we seriously consider the dreadful Judgments that
But if those, who ought to think themselves oblieg'd to weigh these affairs with the greatest deliberation, will obstinately close their Eyes, to these last Remonstrances; and slightly over-look the pinching Case of so many thousand Families, that are by these Severities expos'd for Prey, to the unsatiable appetites of a Villanous Crew of broken Informers (daubing themselves with that deluding Apprehension of pleasing God, or at least of profiting the Country; (whilst they greatly displease the one, and evidently ruin the other) as certain as ever the Lord God Almighty destroy'd Sodom, and lay'd waste Gomorah, by the consuming Flames of his just Indignation; will he hasten to make desolate this wanton Land, and not leave an Hiding-place for the Oppressor.
Let no man therefore think himself too bigg to be admonish'd, nor put too slight a value upon the Lives, Liberties, and Properties of so many thousand free-born English Families, Embarqu't in that one concern of Liberty of Conscience. It will become him better to reflect upon his own Mortality, and not forget his Breath is in his Nostrils, and that every Action of his Life the everlasting God will bring to Judgment, and him for them.