A86009:34
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.
These are not my reasons (if it be not a word or two added by way of explaining and strengthening) but the substance of Piscators reasons: Unto which I add, 1. Though we have clear and full scriptures in the New Testament for abolishing the Ceremonial law yet we no where read in all the new Testament of the abolishing of the Judicial law, so far as it did concern the punishing of sins against the Moral law, of which Heresy and seducing of souls is one, and a great one. Once God did reveal his will for punishing those sins by such and such punishments. He who will hold that the Christian Magistrate is not bound to inflict such punishments for such sins, is bound to prove that those former laws of God are abolished, and to show some scripture for it. 2. That Judicial law for having two or three witnesses in judgement, Deut. 19. 15. Heb. 10. 28. is transferred even with an obligation to us Christians, and it concerneth all judgement, as well Ecclesiastical as Civill, Mat. ⟨p. 9⟩18. 16. 2 Cor. 13. 1. and some […] particulars might be instanced in, which are pressed and enforced from the Judicial law, by some who yet mind not the obligation of it. To conclude therefore this point, though other judicial or forensecall laws concerning the punishments of sins against the Moral law, may, yea, must be allowed of in Christian Republics and Kingdoms; Provided always, they be not contrary or contradictory to Gods own Judicial laws: yet I fear not to hold with Junius, de Politia Mosis cap. 6, that he who was punishable by death under that Judicial law, is punishable by death still; and he who was not punished by death then, is not to be punished by death now; And so much for the first argument from the Law of God.
These are not my reasons (if it be not a word or two added by way of explaining and strengthning) but the substance of Piscators reasons: Unto which I adde, 1. Though we have clear and full scriptures in the New Testament for abolishing the Ceremoniall law yet we no where reade in all the new Testament of the abolshing of the Judicial law, so far as it did concern the punishing of sins against the Morall law, of which Heresy and seducing of souls is one, and a great one. Once God did reveal his will for punishing those sins by such and such punishments. He who will hold that the Christian Magistrate is not bound to inflict such punishments for such sins, is bound to prove that those former lawes of God are abolished, and to shew some scripture for it. 2. That Iudiciall law for having two or three witnesses in judgement,