TO impose any kind of Religion , any way of Worship , or form of Faith , and outward conformity , in any practices of duty to God-wards , by an External Authority of men , through force of Laws commanding and requiring such conformity in Faith and Worship , upon pains , penalties and forfeitures on mens Persons and Estates , as hath been practised in the world since the days of the Apostles , among the Nations professing Christianity ; This thing is not of the Lord , nor according to Commands of Christ , and Examples of the Apostles and Primitive Christians , declared of in the Scriptures ; but is of Antichrist , and unrighteous , unequal and dangerous , to the destruction of the Souls and Bodies of both the Imposers , and the Imposed . For ,

1. Such kind of forcing , & compelling by force of outward Laws , into such outward conformity of Religion , Faith and Worship , Church-Government and Ministry , was never in being nor ever practised in the true Christian Churches , amongst the Apostles in their days ; nor ever was such a thing known among the Primitive Christians ; There was no such kind of Laws made nor executed amongst them , nor such force exercised on men's persons and estates in such cases ; there was no outward violence used in the primitive times , to compell any to conformity to Christian Faith , Worship , and practice of Christian Religion ; none of the first Christians were made truly Religious , and converted from the way of Error , to the way of true Christianity by such means of outward force and commandments of men put upon them ; They were not ( I say ) converted themselves to the Christian Faith and Religion , nor made conformable worshippers of God in his Spirit by that way and means , nor did they seek to convert others into conformity to Church-Government and Christian Worship by force of outward Laws , upon pains and forfeitures ; These things were not in the true Church of Christ in the Apostles days amongst the Primitive Christians .

2. But the true way of Conversion among them , to the Christian Faith , and Worship , and true Church-Government , whereby people were made rightly conformable to the true Christian Religion , as it was amongst the Apostles ; was by and through the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ Jesus preached amongst them in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God of such as were truly called and sent of him , which did turn people to the Spirit of God , and that Ministery wrought in them to receive it , by which their consciences were convinced , and their hearts perswaded in the love of Christ to believe in him , and receive him , and follow him ; and thus were they drawn , and begotten , and converted into the Faith , and Worship , and Practice of the true Christian Religion , and made conformable to the Government and Order of the true Church of Christ , in all things , by this means ; and were only , and not at all by any outward force and compulsion exercised upon them , converted to the true Christian Religion , and to the true Worship of God ; and by the same way did they convert and turn others to the same ; and this onely is the perfect way of Christian Conformity to the true Christian-Worship and Church-Government ; it ever was since the beginning of Christianity in the world , and is unto this day , even to perswade the heart , and to convince the Conscience inwardly by the sound Doctrine of the Gospel , through the operation of the Spirit of Christ , and by love , and meekness , and patience , and all the fruits of righteousness , held forth in Doctrine and Conversation , which may answer the Testimony of God in all mens Consciences : Hereby , and in this way is true Conversion wrought in the heart , to the turning men from all Error unto the Truth , and from all false Worships , and Heresies , and evil wayes , unto the true Christian Worship , and conformity to holy Church and Religion : This ( I say ) was the way among the primitive Christians and Apostles of old , and is the same among the true Christians in this age ; and they that would conform others , and are conformed themselves otherwise in this Case of Religion and Worship to God-wards , are not in the Example of Christ and his Saints , but out of the Life , and contrary to the first Christians , and president of the holy Scriptures , as hereafter is manifested .

3. The way and practice of imposing Religion , and Conformity in Worship and Church-Government , by Force , ( as aforesaid ) is so far from being according to the Practice and Example of the Apostles and the primitive Churches of Christians , that they are even contrary to the Commands and Exhortations of Christ and his Apostles , and Example of the Scriptures : 1. As in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares , Matt . 13. when it was desired of the servants , that they might go and gather out the Tares that the Enemy had sown , from among the Wheat ; it was commanded to the contrary by the Husbandman , even that they should suffer the Tares to grow among the Wheat till the Harvest , and not pluck them up , lest they should hurt the Wheat thereby . Now though there be an invisible Mysterie of the Kingdom of Heaven secretly signified in this Parable , more then may here be said ; yet 't is also clearly signified , that Christ would have no imposition nor violence used upon the Tares , nor that they should pluck them up by force , but that the good Corn and the bad should grow together in one Field till the Harvest . And thus much this Parable bears the proof of : Suppose there be Heresies and Hereticks , and prophane persons that are not in the truth , but in errors , who are bad Corn , even as the Tares to the Wheat ; in that Kingdom , City or Family where there is also converted Saints , and holy persons , and true Members of Christ , who are as the Wheat to the Tares ; yet such Hereticks and prophane persons that are in Error , ought not to be plucked up violently , to wit , Imprisoned , banished , and put to death , burned and destroyed from amongst the righteous , though they grow amongst them , even in the same Field ; the converted Saints ought not ( I say ) to destroy by banishment or death , the Hereticks , and unconverted , and unconformable persons from amongst them , but they are to let them live , even grow amongst them in the same Field , in the same Kingdom , City or Family , till Harvest . And thus much the Parable may truly signifie , even a liberty to live for the Tares , the bad Corn , the evil persons , among the Wheat , the righteous persons , without being imposed upon by cruel force and outward violence , to compel into conformity .

2. As in the case among the Saints and true believers , where some believed they might eat all things , others did eat Herbs ; and some esteemed one day above another , and others esteemed every day alike , Rom. 14. Here was some difference in Judgement and Practice among the Believers , about Meats and Dayes ( about which things there hath been much Imposition and Force used in the World since the Apostles dayes : ) Well , but what doth the Apostle Paul do , and advise in this case ? Doth he threaten violence towards any of them , or signifie any forcible commands or impositions to be used to bring them into conformity and unity in the things and matters about which they were divided ? No , no ; but this is his advice to the Church of Christ ( of which he was a true and able Minister ) Judge not one another about such things , nor do not impose any practice upon thy Brother ; for to Christ Jesus his Master , every Believer stands or falls . And saith the Apostle , Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind , ver . 5 And hereby 't is manifestly proved , that in the Churches of Primitive Christians , the Saints and true Christians were not imposed upon by commandments of men , or outward Laws , in the matters of their Religion , and practice of Conscience ; there was no signification of Force to be used for Conformity ; but wholly contrary , even every believer had the liberty of the Spirit of Christ , and as he was by that perswaded in his own mind , to do , or leave undone in such cases , and every one was to mind the teachings of the Spirit of Christ in himself , for to that he was to stand or fall , and not to impose upon another , no not so much as to judge his Brother in any case of difference in judgement or practise , but they were to leave one another to the perswasions of the Spirit of Christ in their own minds .

3. As in the Case where the Apostle exhorted the Saints to be like-minded , Phil . 3. But saith he , If any be otherwise minded , God shall reveal even this unto you ; by which saying it is manifest , that the Unity and Conformity of Saints in mind and practice , was not by Imposition , or any outward force threatned or exercised upon their Persons or Estates ; but contrariwise , if there was any difference in mind and practice amongst them , that was to be amended , and Unity made up , when God revealed the same truth in all , as he had done in some ; if any were not so minded in any thing as others were ; they were not to be imposed upon , but let God reveal the same , and bring into conformity ; this was the Apostle's Counsel : And ver . 16 Nevertheless , whereto we have already attained , let us walk by the same Rule ; that is to say , so far as the Rule of the Spirit of Christ is made manifest , or in what measure the perfection thereof is attained unto , let every one walk in the same measure , and by the same Rule ; and if any have not the self-same measure of the Spirit , and knows the self same things , let such alone , without imposing upon them , leave them to walk in the measure of Light and Knowledge that they have received , though it be not the self-same measure that others have received ; and if they want any knowledge , or be in any thing otherwise minded , God shall reveal the same unto them , even the same thing , as they grow in the same measure of Grace and Knowledge : And here is the perfect way of Unity and Conformity , as the Primitive Christians were exercised in the true Faith and Worship , and true Christian Religion in their days : And so to impose by Force upon pains and forfeitures in Religious matters , is clearly contrary to all these Scriptures , and to many more in the New-Testament .

4. In that case 1 Pet . 5.2 , 3. where the Apostle exhorts the Elders to take the oversight of Gods Flock , not by constraint or force , but willingly ; not for filthy lucre , but of a ready mind ; neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage : Which clearly signifies against imposing upon the Flock of God , or forcing in Religious Matters ; for ye see the Elders might not be constrained or forced to take the oversight of the Flock ; neither ( having the oversight of it ) might they be as Lords over it , nor exercise Lordship over the Heritage of God , to wit , not command the Faith of any , nor impose by any force , in matters of Faith or Duty , nor oppress the pure Conscience of any , nor be as Lords ( in any case ) over the Heritage , nor use any Lordliness , or Mastership , or Dominion , or Commandment by force , or imposing upon the Flock ; this is clearly forbidden by the Apostle , and the contrary commended ; But be ensamples to the Flock , ( saith he ) feed them , win them , teach them , or oversee them , by good example , by love , as good Elders or Stewards over them , not as Lords , exercising any force upon them in rigor or bitterness ; and this is the perfect way of Bishops , Elders and Ministers , overseeing the Flock of God , even to rule over , and oversee God's Heritage , walking before them as good Examples of humility , self-denial , and in all the vertues and fruits of the Spirit of Christ , and feeding them hereby with the Word of Life , and that freely , not for filthy lucre , hire or rewards ; and not ruling over them as Lords , imposing upon them , or exercising Lordship , by forcing and commanding such Faith , Worship and Duty , and imprisoning and persecuting for disobedience of such forcing , violent commands , as hath been practised in the World for many Ages , even Lordliness exercised over the Heritage of God , and the Ministers , Pastors and Elders have been as Lords over the Flock , and ruled by force and imposition , contrary to the example of Scriptures , and the Commands of the Apostles ; and Love , Meekness , Gentleness , and good Example , have been neglected , contrary to the Apostle Peter's Instructions .

Thus it is clearly manifest throughout the Scriptures , by many proofs , that the way of imposing Religion , and forcing into the conformity of Worship and Church-Government , in the dispensation of the Gospel , as aforesaid , is contrary to the commands of Christ and his Apostles , and the example of Scriptures , and is not of God , nor according unto him . And now I shall shew in the fourth place , of whom it is , and by whose Example this violence used , and persecution , unto Imprisonment and Death for , and because of Religion , and also the beginning of imposition by force amongst Christians .

4. All this Persecution practised about Religion , that hath been in the world , as Imprisonments , Banishments , Whippings , cruel Tortures unto death , and grievous Affliction , hath been of the wicked one , through the Malice and Envy of the Devil , against God and his People in all Generations , even all that Persecution exercised towards the Prophets of old , before the coming of Christ in the Flesh , it would be too large to relate the particulars of it , as it is signified partly in the Scriptures , and chiefly in the Records of Transactions in their dayes ; and I perceive it will easily be acknowledged by all , that such cruel Persecutions were of the Devil . And again , in the days of Christ and his Apostles , how great was that force and imposition by Persecution , practised upon the true primitive Christians , by the Jews and Heathens , even that Persecution which was inflicted upon Christ , his Apostles , and the Christians , was imposition and force exercised about Religion , though not so much for compelling them to any thing , as from that way of Righteousness and Truth in which they walked ; they were commanded to preach no more in the Name of Jesus , and were imprisoned , banished , and greatly afflicted by the Jews ( that great professing people ) for , and because of their Religion ; and this for the first and second Ages : I need not mention the particular proofs for this thing , 't is so clear throughout the Acts of the Apostles , and else-where , how the Primitive Christians were forced and imposed upon by cruel Laws , and violent persecutions for their Christian Religion sake ; all which force and imposed persecutions , were of the Devil , out of his envy and malice raised up , and begotten in the hearts of wicked men , against God and his elected People ; and this will be acknowledged by all . But

5. This way and practice of imposing upon people by force , and compelling them to conformity in matters of Worship and Religion , and all this persecution about the same , was never known in the world amongst Christians , nor practised by any called Christians , till the Apostasie , and falling away from the true Faith , which some did in the dayes of the Apostles , and many more afterwards ; for even in the Apostles dayes some were gone out from them into the way of Cain that killed his Brother , and into the way of Balaam , that went for gifts and rewards ; and these were Apostates from the true Church , and they were heady , high-minded men , proud , covetous , false accusers , and such like , as Paul to Timothy expresseth ; such as these were already sprung up in the first Age , and they grew more abundantly in the second Age ; and these were the Antichrists and false Prophets which John saw were gone out from the true Church , into the world , in his time ; and these deceived the world by the form of godlinesse , and the likeness of Christianity , without the Power and Spirit of Christ ; and the Apostates from the true Faith which were overspread in many Nations , and grown numerous , were the Sea and the Earth , out of which the Beasts arose , Rev. 13. And it was given to the Beast to make war with the Saints , and to overcome them , and they that dwell upon the Earth should worship him ; and he should CAUSE the Earth , and them that dwell therein , to worship ; and he should CAUSE as many as would not worship the Beast and his Image , should be killed ; and he should CAUSE all , both small and great , rich and poor , bond and free , to receive his Mark , &c. And this Beast was the Authority of Antichrist that arose among the Apostates and the false Prophets , that thus CAUSED and compelled all to worship the Beast and his Image ; Mark how often the word CAUSED is used in that Chapter , which is compelled or forced , and it was the Antichrist , the Beast that did it , the Authority that arose among the Apostate Christians that were gone from the true Church ; and this was the first that we read of any forcing or compelling to worship , or persecuting about Worship , and imposing about the same , since the dayes of the Apostles , through Ages , amongst them called Christians ; and here was the beginning of imposing by force , and violent Laws , in the matters of Worship and Religion , amongst the People called Christians , and one Sect and sort according to its Authority , imposed by Laws and force upon another , causing , and compelling one another to worship and believe according to his Form and Image ; and as any Sect of Christians hath gained outward Authority over others , that same hath caused and forced all others by outward violence into conformity to its own way and worship ; and this hath been amongst the People called Christians , in the Apostasie , ever since Antichrist and his Power rose up amongst them ; and thus , and at this time began first the imposing of Worship , and persecuting about the same amongst Christians : And thus 't is manifest to be of Antichrist , and of the wicked one , and not of the Lord .

6. By what is said , it is plain , That all in this present Age who impose by force of Laws , and compell to worship and persecute about the same , are not in the example of Christ , or his Apostles , or any the good Primitive Christians , but in so doing are in the example of the Persecutors of the Holy Prophets , and in the example of the cruel Jews that killed Christ , and persecuted the Saints ; and in the example of the cruel Heathens , that violently persecuted the Christians in divers Ages and Countreys , and are indeed of Antichrist , and of the Beast , that arose up against the Saints , and made war against them ; and such are all they that do impose upon the Persons , Estates and Consciences of men at this day , upon the account aforesaid ; and this is worthy of all mens serious consideration . And now in the next place I shall proceed to shew how unrighteous and unreasonable it is for any called Christians to impose upon the Conscience of others , and to force them by Laws and Commandments in the matters of Worship , and to persecute about the same .

1. It is unrighteous , because it is an intruding upon the Prerogative and Priviledge of God , and seems to be a derogating from His Honor Power and Dominion , which properly is in himself , and pertains to him alone , and not unto mortal man , which is to give Laws to Conscience , and to exercise it in all cases of Religion respecting his Worship , Duty and Service , and to perswade mens Consciences by his Spirit , to follow him , and observe all things which he requires in Faith and Worship : This Power is onely proper to God alone , and to him pertaineth , and to no other : And therefore for any man , or earthly Powers of man , to give Laws and Rules to Conscience , and to impose upon men in the matters of God's Worship , forcing conformity in spiritual exercises , by violent commands , upon forfeitures and punishments , seems to be , and really is , an assuming and presuming upon God's Authority , which belongs onely to him , and tends to rob him of the same , and is an entrenching upon his Soveraignty , and and is wholly unrighteous , and inasmuch as it is a sitting in the Seat of God , and forcing the Exercise of Worship , and intruding upon his blessed Priviledge , and a presuming into his Authority , which he commits to no man , a robbing him of his Honor and Spiritual Dominion : Therefore to impose in matters Religious , is unrighteous on their parts that do practice it . And

2. It is unrighteous because it is contrary to the Command of God , Do ye to others as ye would be done unto ; but this imposing in matters of Worship , is a practise done by others , which others would not be done unto by any , and therefore 't is unrighteous ; for no one Sect or sort of Christians , would be imposed upon in that case by any others , not forced and compelled by outward violence , against their judgements and Consciences , unto such a Conformity of Faith and Worship , to do thus is not to love a man's neighbour as himself , nor to do to all men , as men would be done unto ; for if at any time and place the Papists ( so called ) impose upon the Protestants ( so called ) in this case , of forcing them unto Conformity or persecuting them about Religion , 't is cried out against by such as are so imposed upon , to be tyranny , oppression , and exacting unrighteously ; and thus every Sect of Christians cries out against others , that do impose upon them by force , in things religious , contrary to their judgments and consciences , each sort when they suffer saith of others , they are unrighteous in such impositions , though many cannot see it to be unrighteous in themselves , when they have the opportunity to do it , and doth impose upon others ; but this is where self-advantage kills and choaks the witness of God , though however in it self imposing as aforesaid in religious matters , is contrary to the holy Law of God , and a doing to others as men would not be done unto by others , and therefore 't is unrighteous , both before God and all just men .

3. It is unrighteous to impose worship by force , because it is an exercising dominion over men's faith , by force of outward power , which the Apostle renounces , and seems to forbid , saying , They had not dominion over mens Faith ; and if the Apostles themselves had not power or dominion over men's Faith , that is to say , to command mens faith to believe , or do this , or the other , but as the holy Spirit of Christ perswaded their consciences inwardly ; then no outward power of Kings or Rulers whatsoever , can justly or righteously chalenge such priviledge as to have dominion over mens faith , by imposing upon them through force , which is to take dominion over men's faith , which is unrighteous , because it is contrary to the Scripture , and to the example of the Apostle Paul , inasmuch as it is exercising dominion and lordship over the flock of Christ , and not leaving them to Christ the true Shepherd , who onely ought to teach his people by his Spirit into all truth both of Doctrine , Faith and Worship ; and hath not given power or authority to any Rulers of this world , to impose by force upon the consciences of his tender flock , nor to rule them in lordly dominion , exercising outward force upon them ; but whosoever doth this , it is unrighteous .

4. It is unrighteous , in respect of the fruits and effects which always have , and ever will be produced by such imposition upon conscience in religious matters as aforesaid , ( to wit ) persecution and cruelty of men exercised in that case , which ever hath been , and will be brought forth in Nations and Kingdoms where such impositions are ; for if we look into Ages past , what strife and contention , what enmity and bitterness , what warrs and bloodsheds , what dangers and mischiefs , what persecutions and cruelties have been brought forth among men between Kingdom and Kingdom , between City and City , yea between Kings and their Subjects , between neighbour and neighbour , between brother and brother , upon this very unrighteous occasion of imposing upon conscience by force in respect of Worship ; and every Nation and City at this day , is in the same danger of the same mischiefs , where such impositions are in force ; and therefore needs must the occasion of these so unjust and unrighteous effects , which doth administer the reason of such contentions , warrs , persecutions and cruelties , be unrighteous , and such is imposing in matters religious as aforesaid : and this is partly manifest , and will be more and more through the world , That that Kingdom , City and Country , will not be free from these dangers and mischiefs , but will always be liable unto them , while this kind of imposition by force on the conscience is unremoved ; and that which is the occasion of such continual present dangers , to destroy Kingdoms , Cities and People , is unrighteous ; and such is imposition in the matters of Worship and Religion .

5. It is unrighteous in any King , Prince , or Authority of this world to impose as aforesaid , because it diverts , confounds and destroys the end of just rule and government amongst men one over another , which is onely to rule well in outward affairs , and over the outward man , to keep that in peace and good order , and to be a praise to them that do well , and a terror to all that do evil in their outward man , this is the onely end of Government and rule among men in this world , to rule well over the outward man in things between man and man ; but not to rule over mens consciences , and to exercise lordship over men in the spiritual matters of Christs Kingdom , this pertains not to the outward worldly government of men ; and therefore whosoever do take it upon them , and thereby do oppress the conscience of any , by forcing in spiritual matters , doth unrighteously , inasmuch as they do divert the end of their Authority , and use their power to another end then God hath appointed them ; and while they should onely preserve and defend the outward man by good and wholesom Laws made for that purpose , they vex and oppress the inward man , even the conscience , by forcing upon it , and imposing through violence in the matters religious , which is contrary to the end of just rule and government in the world , and therefore is wholly unrighteous .

6. It is unrighteous , because it effects no good end , nor begets-people into the true faith and worship of God ; but on the contrary makes many Hypocrites , even through fear and terror ; such Laws forcing Conformity , do make many hypocritically conform to such or such way of Worship , which the Spirit of Christ doth not perswade their Consciences of the truth of ; nay it may be against their Conscience ; and that ( Imposition as aforesaid ) which is the cause of this , is surely Unrighteous ; unrighteous , because the End propounded by the Imposers ( which is , to make people true Worshippers of God ) is utterly frustrate and void ; and none are made true Worshippers of God by such Imposition and Force , but many are made Hypocrites thereby , and sinners against God ; for what any performs to God-wards by Force , and not of Faith ( given into the heart by God ) it is sin ; For whatsoever is not of Faith , is sin , as saith the Scripture ; and that which is the occasion of hypocrisie and sin , is unrighteous , and temptation ; but such is imposing on Conscience by force in matters religious .