To the Christian Reader.
Good Reader, I fully intended, and accordingly had provided that this first Part of Anti-Toleration should have come into your hands more compleat and perfect then it does for the present: I prepared an Epistle Dedicatory to the Honourable Houses of Parliament sutable to the nature of Toleration and the Times, as also a Preface and Introduction to that Argument and Subject wherein laying down the Prolegomena & Praecognita of this Noble and famous Question of Liberty of Conscience, as certain Distinctions about Magistrates and their Power, of Errors and Opinions, of Persons holding them, of Toleration and Liberty, as some Concessa, some Negata, certain mistakes and misrepresentations of the state of the Question, with divers other Particulars, I drew up the true state of the Question both Theologically and Politically (it being a mixt question) besides I purposed to have added to this Part further proofs out of the New Testament against Toleration, and for the Magistrates power: But these Preparatives and Additionals amounting to about some [illegible] sheets, (the reviewing, perfecting, and printing whereof would take up at least twenty dayes) and not knowing what a Day might bring forth, the Storm comming on so fast, I thought it best, for fear this Book might be suppressed at the Presse and never see the Sun, to send it forth as it was, that the Church of God at home and abroad might have the benefit of it, and to reserve the rest for a second Part (if God spare life and liberty.) In this present Tractate is handled the Scripturall part of Anti-Toleration (the best foundation and only ground-work to build on) wherein there are not only the Scriptures produced for proof, but made good by severall reasons from the text and context, with all the evasions to clude and put them off, fully answered. The subject matter of this Book is the great Controversie of the times, Toleration being that very thing for which God has a controversie with the Parliament and Land, having most justly, (however tis most unjust on their part) raised up that Generation not to suffer them, because they have against the councel of God, yes against all sense and reason, let them alone and suffered them to grow to this Head. I remember what God said to his people Israel, that if they did not drive out the Canaanites and destroy their pictures &c. they should be pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides, and should vex them with their wiles, What of the King of Israel, because that he let go out of his hand a man appointed to destruction, therefore his life should go for his life, and his people for that people; as also what of the Angel of Thyatira, that Christ had a quarrell with him for suffering that woman Jezabel to teach and to seduce his servants. And we may see how God has now fulfilled this upon the Parliament, Ministry, City, Kingdome, vexing us and threatning heavy things against us by the Sectaries, punishing us wherein we have offended. In all ages and histories of the Church we shall find that Hereticks and Sectaries, however while weak and few, have pleaded for Toleration and Liberty, yet when they have come to grow strong and to have power in their hands, they never would suffer the Orthodox, but have been the greatest tyrants and persecutors, as the Arrians, Donatists, Anabaptists, Arminians. It was the observation of Augustine many hundred yeers ago, and his answer to Petilian, That the Donatists (however they pleaded far be it from them to compell any one to their Tenets) where they had power, used to force the Orthodox violently; and where they did not, it was not for want of will, but because they could not for fear of the laws or the multitude of refusers; yes if any of their own party left them and came to the Orthodox, they would fall upon them and beat them, yes kill them; and that Sect of the Donatists which was strongest, would implore the help of the Magistrate against their Schismaticks the Maximinianistae and Rogatistae: all which Austin shows. But for a conclusion, I shall turn my prayers to God, that he would give us to see and know our sin in our punishment, and to give him glory in saying, Righteous are you O Lord, and just are your judgements; And for the time to come to give Magistrates, Ministers, and his People more zeal and wisdome then to tolerate and suffer Errors, Heresies, and Schismes. And so commending these labours to the blessing of Christ, who yet lives and raigns, (as Luther speaks) and will raign till he has made all his enemies his footstool.
I remain, Yours in Christ, THOMAS EDWARDS.
