A42772:39
An useful case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters,…An usefull case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters,…
An useful case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters, infidels, heretics, or any other known enemies of truth and godliness. By Master George Gillespie, late minister at Edinburgh. Whereunto is subjoined a letter, written by him to the commissioners of the General Assembly, in the time of his sickness: together with his testimony unto this truth, written two days before his death.An usefull case of conscience discussed and resolved concerning associations and confederacies with idolaters, infidels, hereticks, or any other known enemies of truth and godlinesse. By Master George Gillespie, late minister at Edinburgh. Whereunto is subjoyned a letter, written by him to the commissioners of the Generall Assembly, in the time of his sicknesse: together with his testimony unto this truth, written two dayes before his death.
Edinburgh: printed by the heirs of George Anderson for Andro Wilson, 1649Edinburgh: printed by the heires of George Anderson for Andro Wilson, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If any disaffected shall still insist and say; But why then are we received both to the Covenant and to the Sacrament, nay, why are we forced and compelled into the Covenant. Answ. 1. If any known malignant or complier with the rebels or with any enemy of this Cause hath been received either to the Covenant or Sacrament, without signs of Repentance for the former malignancy, and scandal (such signs of Repentance I mean, as men in Charity ought to be satisfied with) 'tis more then Ministers and Elderships •an answer […] to Go•, or to the Acts and constitutions of ⟨p. 26⟩this National Church. I trust all faithful and conscientious Ministers have laboured to keep themselves pure in such things. Yea the General Assembly hath ordained that known compliers with the rebels, and such as did procure protections from the enemy, or keep correspondence and intelligence with him, shall be suspended from the Lords Supper, till they manifest their Repentance before the Co• gregation. Now if any after signs and declaration of Repentance have turned again to their old ways of malignancy, their iniquity be upon themselves, not upon us. 2. Men are no otherwise drawn or forced into the Covenant, then into other necessary duties. Nay it ought not to be called a forcing or compelling. Are men forced to •pare their neighbours life, because murder is severely punished? or are men compelled to be loyal, because traitors are exemplarily punished There may and must be a willingness and freeness in the doing of the contrary duty; although great sins must not go away unpunished. Men are not compelled to virtue, because vice is punished, else virtue were not virtue. Those that refuse the Covenant reproach it, or rail against it, ought to be looked upon as enemies to it, and dealt with accordingly: yet if any man were known to take the Covenant against his will, he were not to be received. 3. These two may well stand together, to censure the contempt or neglect of a duty, and withal to censure wickedness in the person that hath taken up the practise of the duty. If any Israelite would not worship the true God, he was to be put to death, 2 Chron. 15. 13. but withal, if, worshipping the true God, he was found to be a murderer, an adulterer, &c. for this also he was to be put to death.