A92140:174
A free disputation against pretended liberty of conscience tending to resolve doubts moved
A free disputation against pretended liberty of conscience tending to resolve doubts moved by Mr. John Goodwin, John Baptist, Dr. Jer. Taylor, the Belgic Arminians, Socinians, and other authors contending for lawless liberty, or licentious toleration of sects and heresies. / By Samuel Rutherfurd professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews.A free disputation against pretended liberty of conscience tending to resolve doubts moved by Mr. John Goodwin, John Baptist, Dr. Jer. Taylor, the Belgick Arminians, Socinians, and other authors contending for lawlesse liberty, or licentious toleration of sects and heresies. / By Samuel Rutherfurd professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews.
London: printed by R.I. for Andrew Crook, 1649
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.
5. The question is not whether Religion can be enforced upon men by the Magistrate by the dint and violence of the sword, or only persuaded by the power of the word, We hold with Lactantius that Religion cannot be compelled, nor can mercy and justice and love to our neighbour commanded in the second table be more compelled then faith in Christ. Hence give me leave to prove two things. 1. That Religion and faith cannot be forced on men. 2. That this is a vain consequence; Religion cannot be forced but must be persuaded by the word and Spirit, Ergo the Magistrate can use no coercive power in punishing Heretics and false teachers.
5. The question is not whether Religion can be inforced upon men by the Magistrate by the dint and violence of the sword, or onely perswaded by the power of the word, Wee hold with Lactantius that Religion cannot be compelled, nor can mercie and justice and love to our neighbour commanded in the second table be more compelled then faith in Christ. Hence give me leave to prove two things. 1. That Religion and faith cannot be forced on men. 2. That this is a vain consequence; Religion cannot be forced but must be perswaded by the word and Spirit, Ergo the Magistrate can use no coercive power in punishing Hereticks and false teachers.
For the first, we lay hold on all the arguments that prove the word preached to be the only means of converting the soul, begetting of faith and that carnal weapons are not able, yea nor were they ever appointed of God, to doing down strong holds,1 nor can they make a willing people: and Lactantius said well, What is left to us, if another's lust […] that by force, which we must do willingly? And that of Tertullian. It is of the law or right of man and of his natural power what every man worships, what he thinks he should worship, nor doth the Religion of one either do good or do evil to another man, nor is it religion to compel religion, which ought ⟨p. 51⟩to be received by w•ll not by force: since sacrifices (of worship) are required of a willing mind. In which I observe. 1. Tertullian speaks not of the true Christian Religion which is now in question: