A80614:78
The controversy concerning liberty of conscience in matters of religion, truly stated, and distinctly…The controversie concerning liberty of conscience in matters of religion, truly stated, and distinctly…
The controversy concerning liberty of conscience in matters of religion, truly stated, and distinctly and plainly handled, by Mr. John Cotton of Boston in New-England. By way of answer to some arguments to the contrary sent unto him, wherein you have, against all cavils of turbulent spirits, clearly manifested, wherein liberty of conscience in matters of religion ought to be permitted, and in what cases it ought not, by the said Mr. Cotton.The controversie concerning liberty of conscience in matters of religion, truly stated, and distinctly and plainly handled, by Mr. John Cotton of Boston in New-England. By way of answer to some arguments to the contrary sent unto him, vvherein you have, against all cavils of turbulent spirits, clearly manifested, wherein liberty of conscience in matters of religion ought to be permitted, and in what cases it ought not, by the said Mr. Cotton.
London: printed for Thomas Banks, 1646
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
First, The government of the civill Magistrate reacheth no further then over the bodies and goods of their subjects, not over their souls, and therefore they may not undertake to give laws to the souls and consciences of men.
First, The government of the civill Magistrate reacheth no further then over the bodies and goods of their subjects, not over their soules, and therefore they may not undertake to give lawes to the soules and consciences of men.
Secondly, That the Church of Christ doth not use the Arms of secular power to compel men to the faith, or profession of the truth, for this is to be done by spiritual weapons, whereby Christians are to be exhorted, not compelled. But this hindereth not that Christians sinning against light of faith and conscience, may justly be censured by the Church by excommunication, and by the civill sword also, in case they shall corrupt others to the perdition of their souls.
Secondly, That the Church of Christ doth not use the Arms of secular power to compell men to the faith, or profession of the truth, for this is to be done by spirituall weapons, whereby Christians are to be exhorted, not compelled. But this hindreth not that Christians sinning against light of faith and conscience, may justly be censured by the Church by excommunication, and by the civill sword also, in case they shall corrupt others to the perdition of their soules.
As for the testimony of the Popish book, we weigh it not, as knowing (whatsoever they speak for toleration of Religion, where themselves are under the hatches) when they come to sit at Sterne, they judge and practise quite contrary, as both their writing and judicial proceedings have testified to the world these many years.