A Resolution of Conscience
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A94159.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A RESOLUTION OF CONSCIENCE, in Answer to Mr Ascham 's BOOK.
U Pon perusal of M r Ascham 's Book you left with me, I find not myself in my understanding thereby convinced of the Necessity or Lawfulness of Conforming unto, or Complying with an unjust prevailing Power, further then I was before persuaded, it might be Lawful or Necessarie so to do: viz. As I paying Taxes, and Submitting to some other things (in themselves not unlawful) by
〈1 page missing〉3. Without any explicit or implicit Acknowledgment of the Justice and Legalitie of their Power: I may submit to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , (to the Force) but not acknowledge the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , (the Autoritie) or by any my Voluntarie Act give strength, assistance, or countenance thereunto.
4. Without any prejudice unto the claim of the Oppressed Partie that hath a right, Title; or casting myself into an Incapacitie of lending him my due and bounden Assistance, if, in time to come, it may be useful to him towards the Recoverie of his Right.
5. Where I may reasonably, and Bonâ Fide presume, the Oppressed Power, (to whom my Obedience is justly due) if he perfectly knew the present Condition I am in, together with the Exigence and Necessity of the present Case, and all of Circumstances thereof, would give his willing Consent to such my Conformitie and Compliance.
So that, upon the whole matter and in short, I conceive I may so far submit unto the Impositions, or complie with the Persons of a prevailing usurped Power, unjustly commanding things not in themselves unlawful; or make use of their Power to protect one from others Injuries. As I may submit unto, complie with, or make use of an High-way Thief, or Robber, when I am fallen into his hands, and lie at his Mercy.
As for M r Ascham 's Discours, though it be handsomely framed, yet all the Strength of it (to my seeming) lie's upon two Principles, which (if he would speak out) would be in plain English these:
1. That Self-preservation is the first and chiefest Obligation in the World, to which all other Bonds and Relations (at least between Man and Man) must give place.
2. That no Oath, at least no imposed Oath, at what Terms soever expressed, bind's the Taker further then he intended to bind himself thereby; and, it is presumed, that no man intended to bind himself to the prejudice of his own safety.
Two dangerous and desperate Principles, which evidently tend 1 to the taking away of all Christian Fortitude and Suffering in a Righteous Caus: 2 to the Encouraging of daring and ambitious Spirits to attempt continual Innovations, with this Confidence, that if they can by any ways (how unjust soever) possess themselves of the Supreme Power, they ought to be submitted unto: 3 to the Obstructing unto the Oppressed Partie all possible ways and means, without a Miracle, of ever recovering that just Right, of which he shall have been unjustly dispossessed: And (to omit further instancing) 4 to the bringing in of Atheism, with the Contempt of God and all Religion, whilst every man, by making his own Preservation the Measure of all his Duties and Actions, maketh himself thereby his own Idol.