A86009:91
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.
Before I end, I have a word of exhortation for the five Apologists, and such others as shall (I trust) agree with the Churches of both Kingdoms, not only in one Confession of Faith; but in one Directory of Worship. Me thinks I hear them calling to me to say on. Et tu mi filly? said Caesar. And must you also brethren, give a wound to the body of Christ? Do not, O do not involve your selves in the plea of Toleration with the Separatists and Anabaptists. Do not partake in their Separation, lest you partake in their suppression. Let us hear no more Paraeneticks for Toleration, or liberty of Conscience: but as many as you will for a just and merciful Accommodation: a thing mentioned by that Author, pa. 3. but not sought after. If you be the Sons of peace, you shall be characterized by this Shibboleth, you will call for Accommodation, not for Toleration; for one way,1 not for two. Let there be no strife between us and you, for we be brethren: and is not the Canaanite and the Perizzite yet in the land? O let it not be told in Gath, nor published in the streets of Ashkelon. Let it not be said, that ⟨p. 39⟩there can be no unity in the Church without Prelacy. Brethren I charge you by the Roes and by the Hinds of the field, 2that ye awake not nor stir up Jesus Christ till he please; for his rest is sweet and glorious with his well-beloved. It shall be no grief of heart to you afterward, that you have pleased others as well as your selves, and have stretched your principles for an Accommodation in Church government, as well as in Worship, and that for the Churches peace and edification; and that the ears of our common enemies may tingle,3 when it shall be said, The Churches of Christ in England have rest, and are edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the joy of the Holy Ghost are multiplied. Alas, how shall our divisions and contentions hinder the preaching and learning of Christ, and the edifying one another in love! Is Christ divided? saith the Apostle. There is but one Christ, yea the head and the body makes one Christ, so that you cannot divide the body without dividing Christ. Is there so much as a seam in all Christs garment? Is it not woven throughout from the top to the bottom? Will you have one half of Israel to follow Tibni, and another half to follow Omri?