A57980:1049
A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in…A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in…
A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in the antichristian doctrine of John Saltmarsh and Will. Del, the present preachers of the army now in England, and of Robert Town, by Samuel Rutherfurd ...A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in the antichristian doctrine of John Saltmarsh and Will. Del, the present preachers of the army now in England, and of Robert Town, by Samuel Rutherfurd ...
London: printed by J.D. & R.I. for Andrew Crooke, 1648
Part 1 › Chapter 30: Familists will have all externals indifferent.
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.
The Uniformity that Familists cry down is the tying of the spirit and his various working to one form and way of working, for this were to rule, order, enlarge and straighten the spirit of God by the spirit of man, (saith Del.) But we judge Familists to be ignorant of the state of the question. For the preaching and ⟨p. 259⟩worshipping of God in spirit and truth is not the thing in question, but how the outward Ordinances, whither the spirit concur with them, or concur not, ought to be ordered? we say. God hath not left men at freedom to follow the dictates of Conscience at will, which often is conceit, not Conscience, the word regulateth us sufficiently, that we look to the rules of edification, charity, prudency, order, decency, and especially the word of God.
The Un•formity that Familists cry downe is the tying of the spirit and his various working to one form and way of working, for this were to rule, order, inlarge and straighten the spirit of God by the spirit of man, (saith Del.) But we judge Familists to be ignorant of the state of the question. For the preaching and ⟨p. 259⟩worshipping of God in spirit and truth is not the thing in question, but how the outward Ordinances, whither the spirit concurre with them, or concurre not, ought to be ordered? we say. God hath not left men at freedome to follow the dictates of Conscience at will, which often is conceit, not Conscience, the word regulateth us sufficiently, that we looke to the rules of edification, charity, prudency, order, decency, and especially the word of God.
But the mystery is this, all outward things are indifferent, and we are to please one another in them, and the spirit without the word is a rule to us, in the ordering of externals. We hear Saltmarsh and M. Beacon say, we must please one another in love in outward things, so H. Nicholas saith, pattern of the pres. Temp. The Services and Ceremonies (he means all the Idolatrous service of the Church of Rome) shall not save any one without the good nature of Jesus Christ, and of his service of love, nor yet condemn any one in that good nature of Jesus Christ, nor in the service of love.