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The Great Case of Liberty of Conscience once more briefly debated [...] (Author: William Penn)

Chapter 2

The next great evil which attends externall force in matters of faith and worship, is no less then the overthrow of the whole Christian Religion, and this we will briefly evidence in these four particulars. 1. First, that there can be nothing more remote from the nature 2. Secondly, the practice. 3. Thirdly, the promotion. 4 Fourthly, the Rewards of it.

1. First, it is the priviledge of the Christian Faith above the dark suggestions of ancient and modern superstious Traditions, to carry with it a most self evidencing verity, which ever was sufficient to proselite believers, without the weak Auxilaries of external power; The son of God, and great Example of the world, was so far from calling his Father's omnipotency

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in legions of Angels to his defence, that he at once repeal'd all Acts of force, and defin'd unto us the nature of his Religion in this one great saying of his, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. It was spiritual, not carnall, accompanied with weapons, as heavenly as its own nature, and design'd for the good and salvation of the soul, and not the injury and destruction of the body: no Goals, Fines, Exiles &c. but sound reason, clear truth, and a strict life. In short, the Christian Religion intreats all, but compells none.

2. Secondly, that Restraint and Persecution overturn the practise of it; I need go no further then the allow'd Martyrologies of several ages, of which the Scriptures claim a share; begin with Abel go down to Moses, so to the Prophets, and then to the meek example of Jesus Christ himself; How patiently devoted was he, to undergo the contradictions of men? and so far from persecuting any, that he would not so much as revile his Persecutors, but pray'd for them; thus liv'd his Apostles and the true Christians, of the first three hundred years: Nor are the famous Stories of our first Reformers silent in the matter; witness the Christian practises of the Waldenses, Lollards, Hussites, Lutherans, and our noble Martyrs, who as became the true followers of Jesus Christ, enacted and confirm'd their Religion, with their own blood, and not with the blood of their Opposers.

3. Thirdly, Restraint and Persecution obstructs the promotion of the Christian Religion, for if such as restraint, confess themselves miserable sinners, and altogether imperfect, it either followes, that they never desire to be better, or that they should incourage such as may be capable of further informing and reforming them; they condemn the Papists for encoffening the Scriptures and their Worship in an

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unknown tongue, and yet are guilty themselves of the same kind of fact.

4. Fourthly, they prevent many of eternal Rewards, for where any are Religious for fear, and that of men, 'tis slavish; and the recompence, of such Religion is condemnation, not peace: besides, 'tis man that is serv'd, who having no power but what is temporary, his reward must needs be so too; he that imposes a duty, or restrains from one, must reward; but because no man can reward for such Duties, no man can or ought to impose them, or restrain from them. So that we conclude imposition, restraint, and persecution, are destructive, of the Christian Religion, in the nature, practice, promotion and rewards of it, which are Eternall.