The Political Writings of William Penn
This volume illuminates the origins and development of Penn’s thought by presenting, for the first time, complete and annotated texts of all his important political works. Penn’s early political writings illuminate the Whig understanding of English politics as guided by the ancient constitution (epitomized by Magna Charta and its elaboration of English native rights). The values of liberty, property, and consent (as represented by Parliament) provide the basis for Penn’s advocacy of liberty of conscience in Restoration England. During the 1660s and 1670s, Penn used his social prominence as well as the time afforded him by several imprisonments to compose a number of works advocating religious toleration and defending the ancient constitution as a guarantor of popular liberties.
The Political Writings of William Penn, introduction and annotations by Andrew R. Murphy (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002).
Copyright:
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
People:
- Author: William Penn
- Introduction: Andrew R. Murphy
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Table of Contents
- CONTENTS
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- INTRODUCTION William Penn: His Life, His Times, and His Work
- Penn’s Times
- Penn’s Political Thought: A Brief Overview5
- NOTES ON TEXTS AND ANNOTATIONS
- early christianity and the reformation
- english history
- religious toleration
- CHRONOLOGY OF PENN’S LIFE AND TIMES
- {PART I}: Foundations The Ancient Constitution and English Liberties
- 1.: The People’s Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted, in the Trial of William Penn and William Mead, at the Sessions held at the Old-Baily in London, the First, Third, Fourth and Fifth of September, 1670, against the most Arbitrary Procedure of that COURT (1670)
- To the English READER.
- The TRIAL, c.
- The Indictment.
- 2.: England’s Present Interest Considered, with Honour to the Prince, and Safety to the People (1675)
- The Introduction.
- The QUESTION.
- The ANSWER.
- CHAP. I.: Of English Rights.
- I.: An Ownership and Undisturbed Possession.
- II.: A Voting of every Law that is made, whereby that Ownership or Property may be maintained.
- III.: The People have an Influence upon, and a Great Share in the Judicatory Power, c.
- Several Authorities in Confirmation of the Reasons before mentioned.
- The Sentence of the Curse given by the Bishops, with the King’s Consent against the Breakers of the Great Charter.
- The Sentence of the Clergy, against the Breakers of the ARTICLES before-mentioned.
- CHAP. II.: Of our Superiors governing themselves upon a Ballance, as near as may be, towards the several Religious Interests.
- CHAP. III.: A sincere Promotion of General and Practical Religion.
- A COROLLARY.
- {PART II}: Penn’s Argument for Religious Liberty
- 3.: THE Great CASE of Liberty of Conscience Once more briefly Debated and Defended, by the Authority of Reason, Scripture, and Antiquity: Which may serve the Place of a General Reply to such late Discourses; as have Oppos’d a Toleration (1670) The Author W. P.
- To the Supream Authority of England.
- The PREFACE.
- CHAP. I.: That Imposition, Restraint, and Persecution for Conscience-Sake, highly Invade the Divine Prerogative, and Divest the Almighty of a Right, due to none beside Himself, and that in five eminent Particulars.
- The Terms explained, and the Question stated.
- The Question stated.
- CHAP. II.: They overturn the Christian Religion; 1. In the Nature of it, which is Meekness; 2. In the Practice of it, which is Suffering; 3. In the Promotion of it, since all further Discoveries are prohibited; 4. In the Rewards of it, which are Eternal.
- CHAP. III.: They oppose the plainest Testimonies of Divine Writ that can be, which condemn all Force upon Conscience.
- CHAP. IV.: They are Enemies to the Priviledge of Nature; 1. as rendring some more, and Others less than Men; 2. As subverting the Universal Good that is God’s Gift to Men; 3. As destroying all natural Affection. Next, they are Enemies to the noble Principle of Reason, as appears in eight great Instances.
- CHAP. V.: They carry a Contradiction to Government: 1. In the Nature of it, which is Justice. 2. In the Execution of it, which is Prudence. 3. In the End of it, which is Fidelity. Seven Common, but Grand Objections, fairly stated, and briefly answered.
- Some Grand Objections in the Way must be Considered.
- CHAP. VI.: They reflect upon the Sense and Practice of the Wisest, Greatest, and best States, and Persons of Ancient and Modern Times; as of the Jews, Romans, AEgyptians, Germans, French, Hollanders, nay Turks and Persians too. And Cato, Livy, Tacitus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Jovianus, Chaucer, Dominicus Soto, Malvetzey, Grotius, Rawleigh, Doctor and Student, French and Dutch Protestants in England, Dr. Hammond, Dr. Taylor, A nameless but great Person, Lactantius, Hilary, Jerom, Chrysostom, Polish and Bohemian Kings, King James, and King Charles the First.
- POSTSCRIPT. A few brief Observations upon the late Act, and the usual Terms of Acts of this Nature.
- 4.: ONE Project for the Good of England that is, Our Civil Union is our Civil Safety Humbly Dedicated to the Great Council, The Parliament of ENGLAND (1679)
- The New TEST.
- I yet offer Two Expedients:
- 5.: AN Address to Protestants of All Perswasions More Especially the Magistracy and Clergy, for the Promotion of Virtue and Charity (1679) In Two Parts. By W. P. a Protestant.
- the FIRST PART.
- Sect. 8.: An Address to the Civil Magistrate for Redress.
- the SECOND PART.
- Sect. 1.: Five Capital Evils that relate to the Ecclesiastical State of these Kingdoms.
- Sect. 2.: Of Opinions passing for Faith.
- Sect. 3.: Of Faith, and Mistakes about it.
- What he Taught?
- Sect. 4.: Of Debasing the true Value of Morality under Pretence of Higher Things; and mistaking, in great Measure, the very End of Christ’s Coming.
- Sect. 5.: The Fourth great Ecclesiastical Evil, is Preferring Humane Authority above Reason and Truth.
- Sect. 6.: Of the Propagation of Faith by Force.
- An APPENDIX of the Causes and Cure of Persecution.
- The Judgment of King James and King Charles the First about Persecution for Religion.
- Some Words of Advice from King Charles the First to the then Prince of Wales, now King of England, c.
- 6.: A BRIEF EXAMINATION AND STATE of Liberty Spiritual, both With Respect to Persons in their Private Capacity, and in their Church Society and Communion (1681)
- To the People of the Lord, called QUAKERS.
- A Brief EXAMINATION, c.
- 7.: a perswasive to Moderation to Church-Dissenters, in Prudence and Conscience: Humbly submitted to the KING and His Great Council (1686)
- The EPISTLE.
- A Perswasive to Moderation, c.
- I shall conclude this PERSWASIVE, with the Judgment of some Pious Fathers, and Renowned Princes.
- 8.: Good ADVICE to the Church of England, Roman-Catholick, and Protestant Dissenter: In which it is endeavoured to be made appear, that it is their Duty, Principle, and Interest, to abolish the Penal LAWS and TESTS (1687)
- To the READER.
- GOOD ADVICE, c.
- PART I.
- PART II.: That ’tis the Principle of Men of Note of all Parties.
- PART III.: It is the Interest of all Parties, and especially the Church of ENGLAND.
- The Conclusion.
- {PART III}: General Principles and Specific Events
- 9.: THE Proposed Comprehension Soberly, and Not Unseasonably, Consider’d (1672)
- 10.: ENGLAND’s Great Interest, in the Choice of this New Parliament Dedicated to All Her Free-Holders and Electors (1679)
- 11.: A Letter from a Gentleman in the Country, to His Friends in London, upon the Subject of the Penal Laws and Tests (1687)
- POST-SCRIPT.
- {PART IV}: An Expanding Vision for the Future
- 12.: An ESSAY towards the Present and Future Peace of Europe by the Establishment of an European Dyet, Parliament, or Estates (1693)
- To the READER.
- An ESSAY towards the Present and Future Peace of EUROPE, c.
- Sect. I.: Of PEACE, and it’s Advantages.
- Sect. II.: Of the Means of Peace, which is Justice rather than War.
- Sect. III.: GOVERNMENT, it’s Rise and End under all Models.
- Sect. IV.: Of a General Peace, or the Peace of Europe, and the Means of it.
- Sect. V.: Of the Causes of Difference, and Motives to Violate Peace.
- Sect. VI.: Of Titles, upon which those Differences may arise.
- Sect. VII.: Of the Composition of these Imperial States.
- Sect. VIII.: Of the Regulation of the Imperial States in Session.
- Sect. IX.: Of the Objections that may be advanced against the Design.
- Sect. X.: Of the real Benefits that flow from this Proposal about Peace.
- The Conclusion.
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