The Epifile Dedicatory. aaairift him [ This gnefellow came in to fojourn , andhe will needs be a judge : Now will we deal worfe with thee then with them ]Gen.z9.9. How long have fome been longing, and praying, and moving, and labouring for Peace among the profeffed Ions of Piety and Peace, in England? and all ( for ought I fee ) almoft in vain unlefs to the condemnation of a felfifh unpeaceable generation. ( But yet let the fons of Peace plead for it, as long as they have a tongue and breath to (peak. ) Whence can it be but for want of felf-deoy41, that Magiftrates profeffing a zeal for Holinefs , regard no more the intereft of Chrift but that the Name ( and but the name ) of Liberty, ( a Liberty that bath nei- ther Moral good or evil in it ) is fet in theballance againft the things of everlafting confequence and thought fufficient toover-weigh them 4: And that the t.neer pretence of this indifferent- carnal Liberty, is thought an argument of fufficient weight , for the in- troduion of a wicked damning Liberty , even a Li- berty to deceive and de Elroy as many as they can , and to hinder thole that endeavour mens falvation And whats the argument pleaded for all this e: Its partly a pretence of tendernefs andmercy : and partly becaufe men cannot be made Religious by force. And muff fuch ignorant or jugling confufioris lerve turn, to cheat a Nation of their Religion and Liberties , and many thoufands of their falvation As if all the controver- fie were, whether we fhould force others to be of our Religion when it is only or principally , Whether we may hinder them from robbing us of our own ? and from temptingunitable fouls to fin and to damnation and from hindring the means of mens falvation ? and from
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