ARGVMENTS FOR Toleration.

Publish'd for the satisfaction of all Moderate Men.

ZACH. 13.6.

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then hee shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my Friends.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, 1647.

Arguments for Toleration; Publish'd for the satisfaction of all Moderate Men.
Twenty Four undeniable Premises from which a Toleration may be thus pleaded for:

  • 1 HEavenly wisdome is first pure, and then peaceable; therefore we ought to have a Toleration of impure Doctrines, for hea­venly wisdome will not suit with an earthly Kingdome.
  • 2 When men shake off Truth, they wil shake off Ma­gistracy; therefore there ought to bee a Toleration of errors: for why should our soveraign Lords the People be in subjection?
  • 3 The Papists have long expected to see Popery flourish again in England; therefore there should bee a Toleration: for were it not pity they should lose the fruit of so much industry?
  • 4 If Errors were not tolerated, the Devill would bee enraged; therefore there should bee a Toleration: for [Page 2]who knows what desperate courses hee will put his ser­vants upon, if this be denyed?
  • 5 If there bee not a Toleration of Errors, the Truth will have more favor then Error; therefore there ought to be a Toleration: for wee apprehend it suitable to Ju­stice, to deale impartially.
  • 6 Men are naturally prone to Error; therefore there ought to be a Toleration: for if those things which are naturall bee not tolerated, what will become of naturall Liberty?
  • 7 Errors have thrived well upon a connivence; therefore they ought to have a Toleration: for it is like they will thrive so much the better, and afford a plenti­full increase.
  • 8 The eyes of many Kingdomes are upon England, to see what Reformation it will bring forth; therefore we should have a Toleration: that wee may at once de­ceive all their expectations.
  • 9 It is recorded in Scripture, as a commendation of divers Kings, that they supprest false Worship; there­fore there must be a Toleration of false Worship: for then was then, and now is now.
  • 10 The Gospel-prophecy ( Zachary 13) would be ful­fil'd, if Errors were supprest by the Magistrate; there­fore there ought to bee a Toleration: for wee like not such bloody Tenets.
  • 11 The Parliament have declared that they will not let loose the reines of Government; therefore there ought to be a generall Toleration; that so they might falsifie their Professions.
  • [Page 3]12 England hath Covenanted the suppression of Er­rors; therefore there ought to be a Toleration of them establisht; that wee may declare to the world that wee intend not to keep our Covenant.
  • 13 The people of God prosper'd, when they made and kept the like Covenant, (2 Chron. 15.) therefore there should bee a Toleration, lest England also should pro­sper.
  • 14 God threateneth the Sword to a Nation for brea­king Covenant; therefore we should have a Toleration against Covenant, that the Sword may goe once more through the Land.
  • 15 England hath kept a day of Humiliation for the suppression of Errors; therefore it must yeeld to a Toleration, that the world may say wee mock God in our Fasts.
  • 16 England hath beene many Years famous for the Gospel; therefore now they should be for a Toleration of things contrary to it; that it may follow new fashions in Religion, as well as in Apparell.
  • 17 In these latter times all sorts of Errors doe vend apace; therefore now there ought to be a Toleration of them; for else the Father of Lies will lose his best Market.
  • 18 The Foxes must bee taken for spolling the Vines, ( Canticles 2.15.) therefore there must be a Toleration of these Foxes: for if the bramble may reign, he cares not what becomes of the tender grapes.
  • 19 God complains of Tolerations of Errors and Se­ducers, ( Revel. 2.) therefore there ought to be Tolera­tions of them; how else should we justifie Pergamus and Thyatira?
  • [Page 4]20 The same corruptions which incline men to plead for Error, will incline them to persecute Truth; there­fore there ought to be Toleration of Error, to make way for the persecuting of Truth.
  • 21 Evill men, and Seducers will waxe worse and worse, (2 Tim 3.13.) therefore they ought to be tolera­ted: how else will they come to their perfection? for they are not yet bad enough.
  • 22 Magistrates are appointed by God for a terrour to evill works; therefore the spreading of Error is to bee sheltred under a Toleration; lest the Magistrates should be a terrour to it.
  • 23 Errors destroy mens soules and bodies eternally: therefore they are to be tolerated; that so they which are minded to goe to hell, may carry company enough with them.
  • 24 If we set not up a Toleration, we may want occa­sion of War with our Brethren; therefore there should bee a Toleration; that wee may requite them for their Brotherly assistance.

Twelve Premises laid down by way of Supposition, upon which a Toleration may be inferred by undeni­able consequence.

  • 1 THe people of God want matter to make them sad; therefore there ought to be a Toleration of grosse Errors: for if any thing in the world will grieve them, this will.
  • 2 The Ministers of Christ stand in need of discou­ragement; therefore there ought to bee a Toleration: lest they should finde too much fruit of their Ministery.
  • [Page 5]3 The Gospel thrives too well; therefore there should bee a Toleration: that so the Enemies of the Gospel may have the better advantage to hinder it.
  • 4 God is not enough dishonored; therefore there is a necessity of a Toleration: that ignorant people may be instructed in such Doctrines as tend to Gods disho­nour.
  • 5 The tragedy of Munster must be acted here; there­fore there must be a Toleration: for liberty of Consci­ence was the stirrup by which the Sectaries were moun­ted there.
  • 6 Reformation would goe on too fast, if it were not for toleration; therefore there must be a Toleration for wee would breake Christs bonds, and cast away his cords.
  • 7 Seducers want encouragement; therefore there must be a Toleration: for many had rather goe alone to hell in quiet, then run upon the Magistrates Sword with company.
  • 8 Magistrates ought to meddle onely with the second Table; therefore there ought to be a Toleration of all sins against the first Table: for why should Magistrates take care for Gods glory?
  • 9 The enemies of Religion should have more matter administred to reproach Christianity; therefore there should bee a Toleration to open the mouths of blas­phemers.
  • 10 Liberty of error is one part of our Christian free­dome; therefore there ought to be a Toleration of it, that so we may stand fast in our liberty: for this is our Liberty of Conscience.
  • [Page 6]11 We cryed out formerly upon the Prelates for fa­vouring some Errors; therefore wee would have a To­leration of all now; that so we may make them amends with advantage.
  • 12 The provocations of Englands fins are too little; therefore there should bee a Toleration, to fill up the measure of our iniquities, that we may bee ripe for de­struction.
Ezech. 17.17, 18, 19.

Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty Army and great company make for him in the War, by casting up mounts and building Forts, to cut off many persons.

Seeing he despised the Oath, by breaking the Covenant, (when to he had given his hand) and hath done all those things, he shall not escape.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, As I live, surely mine Oath that hee hath despised, and my Covenant that hee hath broken; even it will recompence upon his own head.

FINIS.

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