The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of state 7
Reaſon of State. 7 7. REASON OF STATE.
IT is affirmed in holy Writte, that Mercy & Truth preſerve the King, and his Throne veſtabliſhed by clemencie; Prov. 20.28.Avowances, which before they were written, the great Monarch Artaxerxes well obſerved and truſted vntounto. For, ruling over many nations, and hauing ſubdued the whole earth vntounto his domin on, concluded nevertheleſſe with himſelfe (as it is read in the booke of Esther) To governe his ſubiects with clemencie and lenity. Cap. 13. v. 2.And the reaſon is plaine, for that the louelove of the ſubiectes (ſooneſt and moſt woone by theſe vertues) is the ſtrongeſt Caſtel, in the world, an army, if any other, moſt puiſſant, and a bulwarke inexpugnable. And as nothing can ſitte ſo neere a Chriſtian mans ſoule, as the religion hee beleeveth: ſo vndoubtedly no merciemercy, no clemency, no lenity, of what nature, or in what matter ſoever, can reliſh ſo ſweete, ſo laſtingly gratefull, ſo forcibly binding, raviſhing, & as it were, conturing the harts of ſubiects, as doth the mercy & benignity which is ſhewed in licenſingaA plaine incō ſequence, which no waies followeth out of the premiſes. freedome of conſcience, & the exerciſe of their religion. So that by permiſſion of Catholike religion (a religion that of all other kinds o…religion, hathbA manifest vntruth. moſt and worthieſt Profeſſours in other Kingdomes that next border vponupon your: Highneſſe, and neither thecAnother vntruth. leaſt, nor meaneſt ſort of ſubiects within your owne realme) your Maieſtie may make millions in and without your territories, ſo entirely and affectionatelydTheſe mēprofeſse they will woi be de voted, vntounto his Maieſtie, without toleration. devoted to your perſon, crowne and poſterity, as no attempt, no danger, no tumult can ariſe, wherein your ſacred Maieſtie ſhall not findeeThey ſpeake by contraries. preſent and ſecureſt harbour.
Reſolution of the 7. Reaſon.
Mercy, clemency, & benignity, which is ſhewed in licenſing freedome of conſcience, and the exerciſe of religion, ſooneſt and moſt of all winneth the louelove of the ſubiect, wherein his Maieſtie ſhall finde preſent and ſecureſt harbour againſt all attemptes, dangers and tumults.
Ergo. The free exerciſe of Popiſh religion is to bee admitted.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 IT is certaine that Princes do, as it were, flow into the harts of their ſubiects, by Mercy & Clemency: and that Mercy and Truth preſerve the King, as Salomon ſaith Prov. 20.28. Mercy, in ceaſing from grievous exactions, in releiving the poore and the oppreſled, and in vſing moderation in puniſhment. Truth, in keeping of his promiſes and covenants, in preſerving and due executing of his laws: By theſe the Kings throne is eſtabliſhed.
2 But here muſt be obſerved the difference between true Mercy & Clemency, and prepoſterous lenity & puſillanimity, in ſparing the wicked, who ſhould be ſeverely puniſhed. Prov. 20.26. Awiſe Kingſeattereth the wicked & cauſeth the wheele to runne over thē. Prov. 17.15. He that inſtifieth the wicked is an abomination to she Lord. Prov. 24.24. He that ſaith to the wicked. Thou are righteous, him ſhall the people eurſe, and the muliitude ſhall abhorre him. v. 25. But to them that rebuke him, ſhall bee pleaſure; and vponupon them ſhall come the bleſſing of goodneſſe.
3 Prepoſterous mercy ſhewed vntounto the wicked and diſobedient, is crueltie towards the good and loyall ſubiects. Prov. 16.12. The throue is eſtabliſhed by inſtice.
4 If any be to be accounted wicked, if any be pernicious vntounto civill governement, and the throne of Kinges, it is the Idolatrous, the ſeducing and tutbulent Papiſt; of whom the Lord particularly ſaith, Rewaràber as ſhee hath rewaràcà you &c. Apoc. 18.6.7.
II To the Conſequence.
1 The Cōſequence hath not the leaſt coherence with the Antecedent: wherefore it may iuſtly be denied.
2 The love of Papiſts vntounto the Magiſtrate is not abſolute ſolute of conſcience, but for private reſpects, and but during the Popes pleaſure, wherefore it is not much to bere: garded.
3 If it were to be regarded in it ſelf; yet is it not wore thie the leaſt reſpect, when queſtion is made of toleratiō: the miſchiefe of this, infinitely ſurpaſſing the commodity and profite of the former.