If what is proposed be not satisfactory, I humbly offer to the hon- ourable Parliament, that a certain number of learned men, who are differently minded as to this business of toleration, which almost every where is spoken against, may be desired and required to a fair debate of the matter in difference before their own assembly ; that so, if it be possible, some hght may be given to the determination of this thing, of so great concernment in the judgments of all men, both on the one side and on the other; that so they may "try all things, and hold fast that which is good."
Gorol. ] . That magistrates have nothing to do in matters of reli- gion, as some unadvisedly affirm, is exceedingly wide from the truth of the thing itself.
Gorol. 2. Corporeal punishments for simple error were found out to help to build the tower of Babel.
Si qnid novisti rectius istis,
Caiulidus inipcrti; si non, his uterc mecum.
' BoLSEC was a bitter opponont of Calvin, ami wrote witli imicli acrimony against
hiin. De J. C.ilv. Hist. Col. 1580. Stapiiyi-ts was at one time an evan ;elical
thi'oloj^iaii of tlie Lutiioiaii Clmich, and aflorwards became a violent enemy of the Reform it ion, l.'j.'JB-l.oGl. STArLKTON was a celebrated llonian Catholic divine, born in Swss.'X 153."). lie left Knf,dand on the aeces.xion of Queen Elizabeth, and was appointed llegins Professor of Divinity in tlie University of Lonvain. lie died in 159S. Ilis works were publislied at Paris in 16-20, in fonr vols, folio — Ed.
SERMON IV.
THE STEADFASTNESS OF THE PROMISES,
AND
THE SINFULNESS OF STAGGERING:
OPENED IN A SEEMON PREACHED AT MAHGAP.ET'S m WF.STMIXSTEE, BEPOr THE PARLIAMENT, FEBRFARY 28, 1619,
KEING A DAY SET APART FOR SOLEMN HUMILfATION THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
PREFATORY NOTE.
'I'he following discourse was preached after Owen's return from Ireland. The expedition of Cromwell had been eminently successful in establishin^i^ jjcaco, after the massacres and commotions which had long prevailed in that island. Owen, however, had set his heart upon securing for it higher blessings than outward peace, enforced by the conquering sword of the Protector. It is affecting to note the depth of spiritual concern and anxiety he evinces, tliat Ireland siiould enjoy the gospel of Christ, as the only cure for its manifold and invetei-ate disorders. How humbling, that extensive districts of it should have remained to our day sub- stantially under the same wants and necessities which had a voice so clamant in the ear of Owen ! It reads as if the utterance of yesterday, when we find him declaring his Iieartfelt wisli, that "the Irisli might enjoy Ireland as long as the moon endureth, so that Jesus Christ miglit possess the Irish."
Mr Ornie holds, apparently on good grounds, that this sermon was really deli- vered before the House of Commons, not in February 1G49, as the title liears, but in February 1650. The epistle dedicatory to the preceding sermon on " Right- eous Zeal," etc., has the address and date, " Coggeshall, Feb. 28," (undoubtedly 1649), which is tlie same day on which, by the title of the present sermon, he was preaciiing at London. Some allusions in this sermon are thought to indicate tliat Owen had been in Ireland; and though, in all the editions of it, the year is said to have been 1649, by tlie present mode of reckoning it would be 1650. We may add, that in the old collections of Owen's sermons, this one follows the sermon next in the present order, on Heb. xii. 27. On the other hand, Asty affirms tliat it was preached before Owen went to Ireland, and sjieaks of it as giving rise to his acquaintance with Cromwell. The allusions to Ireland may not be regarded by some as very decisive on the point; and it is singular that the number of tlie year should differ from the mode of reckoning common to the dates of the other ser- mons ])ublished by Owen about this time. Since authorities differ, we have gi\ en the evidence on botli sides, and the sermons ajjpear in the order in which, by the dates and titles, they are said to have been preached. Mr Orme seems to us clearly in the right; and, though the matter is not of much imjiortance, we have, under tliis view, some record in this discourse of the impressions left on the mind of Owen by liis visit to Iieland. On the first occasion on which he ever ])ieached before the House of Commons, lie entreated that the destitute parts of England and Wales might be supplied with the gos|)el; and now on his return fiom his mission to Dublin, as soon as lie has the ear of rarliament, he implores, in fer- vent terms, that the gospel may be sent to Ireland. The fact bespeaks liis own Iieartfelt sense of its value, and shows how wisely he could turn opportunities to account for the advancement of his Master's cause. — I'.n.
Die Venerh, 1 Mmtii, 1649. Orpeued by the Parliament, That the thanks of this House be given to Jfr Owen for his great ])ains taken in his sermon i)reac]u'(l yesterday liefore the Parliameut, at Margaret's, Westminster (being a day set apart for public humi- liation); and tliat he bo desired to ]>rint liis sermon ; and tiiat he have tlie like privilege in ])rinting as others in like cases have usually had. Ordered, That Sir William A[asham do give the thanks of this House t») Mr (J wen accordingly.