A86009:63
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.
I make haste to his third argument. To compel me, saith he, against my conscience, is to compel me against what I believe to be true, and so against my faith; now whatsoever is not of faith is sin: to compel me therefore against my conscience, is to compel me to do that which is sinful. And, Again I am counselled ⟨p. 23⟩by the Apostle to be persuaded in my own mind of the truth of that way wherein I serve the Lord, &c.
I make haste to his third argument. To compell me, saith he, against my conscience, is to compell me against what I beleeve to be true, and so against my faith; now whatsoever is not of faith is sinne: to compell me therefore against my conscience, is to compell me to doe that which is sinfull. And, Againe I am counselled ⟨p. 23⟩by the Apostle to be perswaded in my owne minde of the truth of that way wherein I serve the Lord, &c.
Answ. 1. This also shaketh loose Parliamentary authority; though the Gentleman who wrote these arguments pretendeth to stand for it, as much as any other. His argument will conclude (if it concludeth at all) that the Parliament may not compel Malignants, disaffected persons, Rebels, to any thing which they are not persuaded in their own minds to be right. It is against my conscience, will the Antiparliamentary malignant say, to contribute to the war, to acknowledge this for a Parliament, as long as the King doth not acknowledge it; to reveal such a design, or to confess this or that plot against the Parliament, when I am examined; therefore I shall sin if I do so, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and the Parliament shall compel me to sin, if they compel me to do so. For though the thing may be in it self good, yet if it do not appear to be so to my conscience, the practice thereof in me is sinful, which therefore I ought not to be compelled unto, saith the Samaritan. If he say his argument is only concerning matters of religion, I answer, Whatever his intention be in offering the argument, the very nature and force of the argument it self driveth universally against the compelling of a man to any thing whatsoever which is against his own conscience, except be will say that it is a sin to serve God against my conscience, but it is no sin to serve the Parliament against my conscience. Saith not the Apostle. WHATSOEVER is not of faith is sin: and, He that doubteth is damned?