" [Footnote: 1646, 4 Nov. _Mass.
Rec._ ii. 179.]
"Though no humane power be Lord over ye faith & consciences of men and
therefore may not constraine ym to beleeve or profes against their
conscience, yet because such as bring in damnable heresies tending to ye
subversion of ye Christian faith ... ought duely to be restrained from
such notorious impiety, if any Christian ... shall go about to subvert ...
ye Christian faith, by broaching ... any damnable heresy, as deniing ye
immortality of ye soule, or ye resurrection of ye body, or any sinn to be
repented of in ye regenerate, or any evill done by ye outward man to be
accounted sinn, or deniing yt Christ gave himselfe a ransome for or sinns
... or any other heresy of such nature & degree ... shall pay to ye common
treasury during ye first six months 20s. a month and for ye next six
months 40s. p. m., and so to continue dureing his obstinacy; and if any
such person shall endeavour to seduce others ... he shall forfeit ... for
every severall offence ... five pounds." [Footnote: 1646, 4 Nov. _Mass.
Rec._ ii. 177.]
"For ye honnor of ye aetaernall God, whome only wee worshippp and serve,"
(it is ordered that) "no person within this jurisdiction, whether
Christian or pagan, shall wittingly and willingly presume to blaspheme his
holy name either by wilfull or obstinate denying ye true God, or reproach
ye holy religion of God, as if it were but a polliticke devise to keepe
ignorant men in awe, .
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