A86009:20
Wholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversy…VVholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversie…
Wholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversy concerning liberty of conscience. Here you have the question stated, the middle way betwixt popish tyranny and schismatizing liberty approved, and also confirmed from Scripture, and the testimonies of divines, yea of whole churches: the chief arguments and exceptions used in The bloody tenet, The compassionate Samaritan, M.S. to A.S. &c. examined. Eight distinctions added for qualifying and clearing the whole matter. And in conclusion a parænetick to the five apologists for choosing accommodation rather then toleration. Imprimatur. Ja. Cranford. Decemb 16. 1644.VVholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversie concerning liberty of conscience. Here you have the question stated, the middle way betwixt popish tyrannie and schismatizing liberty approved, and also confirmed from Scripture, and the testimonies of divines, yea of whole churches: the chiefe arguments and exceptions used in The bloudy tenent, The compassionate samaritane, M.S. to A.S. &c. examined. Eight distinctions added for qualifying and clearing the whole matter. And in conclusion a parænetick to the five apologists for choosing accommodation rather then toleration. Imprimatur. Ia. Cranford. Decemb 16. 1644.
London: printed for Christopher Meredith, 1645
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.
The second opinion doth fall short, as far as the former doth exceed: that is, that the Magistrate ought not to inflict any punishment, nor put forth any coercive power upon Heretics or Sectaries, but on the contrary grant them liberty and toleration. This was the opinion of the Don• tists, against which Augustine hath written both much and well, in divers places: though himself was once in the same error, till he did take the matter into his second and better thoughts, as is evident by his Retractations, lib. 2. cap. 2. & epist. 48. In the same error are the Socinians and Arminians. See Pelt•i Harmonia, Artic. 21. Nic. Bodecher. Sociniano. Remonstrantismus. cap. 25. See also Grotii Apologeticus, cap. 6. pag. 130. Theoph. Nicolaid. Refut. Tractat. de Ecclesia, cap. 4. p. 33. The very same is maintained in some Books printed amongst our selves in this year of confusion: viz. The bloody Tenet: Liberty of Conscience: The Compassionate Samaritan: John the Baptist: and by Mr. Goodwin in his •EOMAXIA, pag. 50. and in his Innocencies Triumph, pag. 8. In which places he denieth that the Magistrate, and particularly that the two Houses of Parliament may impose ⟨p. 3⟩any thing pertaining to the service and worship of God under mulcts or penalties. So M. S. to A. S. pag. 53. 54. 55. &c. disputeth against the coercive power of the Magistrate to suppress Heresies and Sects. This power the Presbyterians do ascribe to the Magistrate, as I shall show by and by: Therefore I still aver, that Mr. Goodwin in denying and opposing this power, doth herein (as in divers other particulars) ascribe much less to the Magistrate then the Presbyterians do: which overthroweth that insinuation of the five Apologists pag. 19.
The second opinion doth fall short, as farre as the former doth exceed: that is, that the Magistrate ought not to inflict any punishment, nor put forth any coercive power uppon Hereticks or Sectaries, but on the contrary grant them liberty and toleration. This was the opinion of the Don• tists, against which Augustine hath written both much and well, in divers places: though himselfe was once in the same error, till he did take the matter into his second and better thoughts, as is evident by his Retractations, lib. 2. cap. 2. & epist. 48. In the same error are the Socinians and Arminians. See Pelti Harmonia, Artic. 21. Nic. Bodecher. Sociniano. Remonstrantismus. cap. 25. See also Grotii Apologeticus, cap. 6. pag. 130. Theoph. Nicolaid. Refut. Tractat. de Ecclesia, cap. 4. p. 33. The very same is maintained in some Bookes printed amongst our selves in this yeare of confusion: viz. The bloudy Tenent: Liberty of Conscience: The Compassionate Samaritan: John the Baptist: and by Mr. Goodwin in his EOMAXIA, pag. 50. and in his Innocencies Triumph, pag. 8. In which places he denyeth that the Magistrate, and particularly that the two Houses of Parliament may impose