A86009:49
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.
Another negative argument is this. Such a coercive power in matters of religion, maketh men hypocrites and seven times more the children of hell. Christs Ordinances put upon a whole City, or a Nation, may more civilize and moralize, but never christianize them; saith M Williams, chap. 82. I answer, this argument doth utterly condemn Josiahs Reformation as sinful, for he caused all Judah to stand to the Covenant, as we heard before from 2 Chron. 34. 32. yet Judah became thereby more hypocritical. Treacherous Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord, speaking of those very days of Josiah, Jer. 3. 6. 10.
Another negative argument is this. Such a coercive power in matters of religion, maketh men hypocrites and seven times more the children of hell. Christs Ordinances put upon a whole City, or a Nation, may more civilize and moralize, but never christianize them; saith M Williams, chap. 82. I answer, this argument doth utterly condemn Josiahs Reformation as sinfull, for he caused all Judah to stand to the Covenant, as we heard before from 2 Chron. 34. 32. yet Iudah became thereby more hypocriticall. Treacherous Iudah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but fainedly, saith the Lord, speaking of those very days of Iosiah, Ier. 3. 6. 10.
2. This argument maketh also against the punishment of adulteries, murders, thefts, robberies, &c. for unless filthy lust, hatred, and covetousness in the heart be mortified, and men convert freely and sincerely, the reducing of them to a moral conversation maketh them hypocrites, and nearer hell then before.
2. This argument maketh also against the punishment of adulteries, murthers, thefts, robberies, &c. for unlesse filthy lust, hatred, and covetousnesse in the heart be mortified, and men convert freely and sincerely, the reducing of them to a morall conversation maketh them hypocrites, and neerer hell then before.