The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of state 5 – Reason of state 6
Reaſon of State. 5 V. REASON OF STATE.
BEſides, the good that, toaBlinded with affection and partialitie. our vnderſtanding, woulde redound to your Highnes and the whole Realme, by the grant of a toleration, isbStill they ſpeak by cōtraries. manifolde and very greate; for that the ſame coulde not butcMelancholike ſpeculations of idle and vngodlie perſons. beget and foſter a right earneſt and zealous aemulation, or holy ſtrife among your Maieſties ſubiectes, differing in Religion, who ſhould exceede the other in duety, ſervice and louelove towardes your perſon and affaires, whiles every one enioyed the freedome of his conſcience, a meane of all others moſt likelydWeſton, and others denie it, and affirme the contrarie. to make your ovvne ſtate and perſon very ſecure, renowneable and bleſſed: your kingdomes opulent, peacefull and invincible your ſubiects ſtudious, ſerviceable and loving, and in all imployments, preſſing to ſurpaſſe one the other in care and diligence. Then the which, nothing can bee thought that is either more happy, more glorious, or more general; and which earthly heauen, if it be any other way to bee attained, it ſeemeth ſooneſt, by graunting aeWherefore do not Popiſh Princes procure this earthly heaven by grā ting of tolerati… toleration of Religion, and by indifferently preferring the Profeſſors, according to every mans deſert, quality and ſufficiency: becauſe all beeing in this manner in ereſſed in your Graces favour, and vnpartially taſting the ſweet therof, cannot be but all faſteſt vnited in the defence of the Realme, and in tendereſt ſafegard of your Maieſties perſon, crowne and dignity.
Reſolution of the 5. Reaſon.
Toleration of Papiſtry would beget and foſter an earneſt & zealous emulation, or holy ſtrife among his Maieſties Subiects, differing in Religion, who ſhoulde exceede the other in duety, ſervice, and love towards his Perſon and affaires.
Ergo.
Toleration is to be granted.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 THe Papiſts with intolerable boldnes, with Luciā like impiety, & horrible iniury vntounto his Highnes, imagine, nay would hauehave others thinke, the Kings royall Maieſtie to bee an Atheiſt or an Epicure, that cared not for Religion, nor for GODS worſhip, ſo his eſtate might be ſecured, and his Perſon honored of all men. Whereas his Maieſties conſtant profeſſion of the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, from his cradle vntounto this day, manifeſtly demonſtrateth vntounto all the world, that his royall hart is moſt ſincerely religious, and no colluder with Heretikes.
2 The Papiſts themſelues teſtifie, that it is impoſſible for Proteſtants & Papiſts to liue togither in the ſame civill ſociety. Fieri non poteſt, ex inſtitutis politicis, vti tam diſparis ſententia cultores commodè cadem ſocietato civils continaantur. Weſton. lib. 3. Cap. 14. pag. 198.
3 And indeede vntounto a man, though but of meane vnderſtanding & knowledge in the eſtate preſent of the world, it cannot but ſeeme impoſſible, for the Proteſtant and the Papiſt to inhabite & commerce togither, conſidering the inteſtine and implacable hatered of the one againſt the other.
4 It is not wiſedome to prooue the Papiſts fidelity in a kingdome, nor to make triall of their earneſt & zealous emulation in ſo rare a iewell, as his Maieſties perſon is, for al their flattering ſpeeches: but rather to keep à vigilant and iealous eie open over them night and daie, that they may not be able (how willing ſo ever they would bee) to do any thing to the annoyance of his royall perſon, and of this noble ſtate and kingdome.
II. To the Conſequence.
1 It is a groſſe errour in Theology, to commit ſinne againſt the Maieſty of GOD, to gaine the greateſt good that may be: much more to gaine a little worldly honor, or other publike or particular advantage.
2 It is a groſſe errour in policie, for gaining of idle & momentanie reputation, to make choice of certaine miſchiefe.
Reaſon of State. 6 6. REASON OF STATE.
NEither would toleration of Catholike Religion bleſſe your Maieſtie and all your ſeverall Dominions, with the happynes precedent only, but the ſame would alſo invite all the Catholike Kings & Rulers in Chriſtendome (being incomparably more in number and potencie, han are the Proteſtant, Puricane and Lutheran Potentates) to ſeeke and continue a true and reall league, both of peace &aA thing v… … vnlawful, and conde…ed to the worde of God. R…d the Anſwere. amitie with your Highneſſe (the ſourſe and ſelfe life of princely felicitie) and make your Maieſties choice ofb…ful alſo. matches for your children farre more noble, rich & ample, in regard … Catholike Prince will refuſe to entertaine, yea to me for like treatie, where toleration of his Religion, is by Royall aſſent permitted.
Reſolution of the 6. Reaſon.
Toleration of Popiſh Religion will …ite all Papiſticoll Kings & Rulers in Chriſtendome to ſeeke and … a true and reall …gue, b…f…eace and …ty, with her Highneſſe; & make his Maieſtie choice of matches for … children …ble, …, and ample.
Ergo:
Toleration is to be …br…ed.
ANSWERE.
I To the Antecedent.
1 FAithfull Chriſtians may lawfully ioine with faithleſſe Idolatrers and other Infidels in league and ſo… of Peace and Concord: becauſe by the generall calling of Chriſtianity they are bound to hauehave peace with all …. … 12.14. Rom. 12.18.
2 As for the league or ſocietie of Amitie, that is, of familiarity and ſpecial louelove; Chriſtians may not ioine therin with Idolatours and Infidels. Proteſtants may not contract league of mutuall ayde and protection with Papiſts.
I Becauſe it makes Idolatours and Infidels boaſt, that the people of GOD cannot ſtand without their aide.
II Becauſe it is a farther occaſion of Idolatrie.
III Becauſe this league often infoldes the people of GOD in the ſame plagues and iudgments with Idolatours.
IV Becauſe Iehoſhaphat for making this kind of league with Achab was reproved. 2. Chro. 19.2. Wouldſt thou HELPE the wicked, and LOVE them that hate the Lord? Therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vponupon thee.
3 GOD forbid that any Chriſtian Prince profeſſing the Goſpel ſhould match his royall Children with Idolators, which the Scripture preciſely condemneth.
I It is an abomination in Iſraell, and a prophanation of the name of GOD, when Iuda marrieth the daughter of a ſtrange GOD. Malach. 2.11.
II Such as do ſo, prophane the covenant of GOD, contēne their Brethren, & pollute the Church of GOD, which ſhould be holy and vndefiled.
III The Lord will cut of the man that doth this, both the Maſter, & the Servāt, out of the tabernacle of Iacob. Malach. 2.12.
II. To the Conſequence.
1. His Maieſtie hath peace already with all Chriſtian Princes and Nations (GOD be thanked) without toleration of Papiſtry.
2. If he had no peace already, yet were it not lawfull for his Highneſſe to procure it, by ſinning againſt GOD; in licenſing the exerciſe of Idolatrie.
3 As for the league of Amity, either in ſpeciall love & protection, or in cōtract of Marriage; the ſame being vnlawfull in it ſelfe, cannot any way inferre hatefull toleration of Popery.