A89735:230
The heart of N-England rent at the blasphemies of the present generation. Or A…
The heart of N-England rent at the blasphemies of the present generation. Or A brief tractate, concerning the doctrine of the Quakers, demonstrating the destructive nature thereof, to religion, the churches, and the state, with consideration of the remedy against it. : Occasional satisfaction to objections, and confirmation of the contrary trueth. / By John Norton ...
Cambridge: printed by Samuel Green, 1659
Chapter 4: CHAP: 4. Of the Remedy against Heretical doctrines, and in particular, against the doct…
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.
Distinguish between Liberty of Conscience. Error.
Distinguish between Liberty of Conscience. Errour.
Liberty of Conscience, (as relating to the question under dispute) is a freedom from all impediment in respect of man, as to the following of the dictate of Conscience, in acting according to Rule. But liberty of Error, or liberty of the error of conscience, is falsely called liberty of Conscience: being indeed opposite thereunto. It is a liberty in respect of man, to answer the dictate of the error of Conscience, in walking contrary to Rule. It is a liberty to blaspheme, a liberty to seduce others from the true God. A liberty to tell lies in the name of the Lord. It is indeed a liberty unto bondage: The exercise very bondage. Restraint from it is a restraint from bondage. They shall put you out of their Synagogues, yea the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service. John. 16.2. To think the murder of the Saints was service unto God, was not from their Conscience, but from the error of their Conscience, and the practice of it a fearful liberty. I verily (saith the Apostle) thought with my self, that I ought to do many things, contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Acts. 26.9. Who was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, & injurious: But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly. 1 Tim: 1.13. This was not from Paul's conscience, which is a principle of light created & placed by God in the soul: but from the ⟨p. 52⟩error of his Conscience, and (himself being witness) from his ignorance, which is of sin and Satan, but not of God.
Liberty of Conscience, (as relating to the question under dispute) is a freedom from all impediment in respect of man, as to the following of the dictate of Conscience, in acting according to Rule. But liberty of Errour, or liberty of the error of conscience, is falsly called liberty of Conscience: being indeed opposite thereunto. It is a liberty in respect of man, to answer the dictate of the error of Conscience, in walking contrary to Rule. It is a liberty to blaspheme, a liberty to seduce others from the true God. A liberty to tell lies in the name of the Lord. It is indeed a liberty unto bondage: The exercise very bondage. Restraint from it is a restraint from bondage. They shall put you out of their Synagogues, yea the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will thinke that he doth God service.