Numb. 114.
Mercurius Politicus.
Comprising the Summe of all Intelligence.
with the Affairs and Designs
now on foot in the there Nations of
England, Ireland, and Scotland.
In defence of the Common-wealth, and
for Information of the People.
------ It à vertere Seria. {Hor. de
Ar. Poet.
From Thursday, August 5. to Thursday, August 12. 1652.
I Am now come to set a Period to this
Discourse; the Ninth and last Error
in Policie, observable from the Practise
of most Times and Nations, hath been
the persecuting and punishing of men
for their opinions in Religion.
This Error is grounded upon another
asserted in altimes by the Furious
drivers of the Clergy, under every transition and Revolution
of outward Forms, viz, that there ought to be an establishment
of some certain chief heads, Articles, and Principles of
Faith, as Fundamentall and Orthodox, which all men must
be bound to hold and beleeve, or els incurr the Censure of Hereticks,
reticks, Sectarians, and Schismaticks, &c. This Position
(I say) under what disguise so ever it come, with whatever
Pretences it be clothed, or by what Persons so ever it be