Answ. This is the only Magna Charta abused for liberty of conscience, which yet crosseth it, but favours it now. Paul giveth two rules, neither of them are for toleration, but against it; the one is for the mind within, the other for the practice without: for the former, he willeth all the perfect to mind this, that is, to endeavour Pauls one thing, and to be followers of him, v. 17. forgetting that which is behind, and pressing toward the mark, and if any be otherwise minded in the matter of circumcision, if he mind the journey toward the garland, God shall clear his doubts to him there is nothing here for Libertines, except we say, let all the godly mind to walk toward the garland,1 by practising circumcision, (as if that were the way) and by tolerating of others to practise Jewish Ceremonies, and if they be otherwise minded, God shall reveal their error, but in the mean time we are to suffer them to mind that, for the which Paul saith, their end is destruction, their belly their God, and they are dogs and evil doers, v. 19. 2. 3. as for the other rule of practise, v. 16. If it plead for Libertines, the sense must be, as far as we have obtained the mind of Christ let us practise, that is, let us be circumcised, and teach and profess and publish to others, all the heresies and blasphemies that seem to us to be true doctrine according to this rule, and let us mind the same thing, let us contend for the garland, and walking according to our conscience our only rule, and practising unlawful ceremonies, and publishing and professing all the heresies we can, we mind the same crown and garland. Now except walking according to the rule be restricted to careful and diligent practising of these things in which we all agree, which must exclude a practising or publishing of doctrines controverted, and that we should abstain from practising and publishing of opinions in which we agree not, nothing can be extorted hence in favour of toleration. Our brethren say, Let us gather Churches out of true Churches, and separate our selves from true Churches, and preach Familism, Antinomianism, Arianism, ⟨p. 100⟩and what not?
Answ. This is the onely Magna Charta abused for liberty of conscience, which yet crosseth it, but favours it now. Paul giveth two rules, neither of them are for tolleration, but against it; the one is for the minde within, the other for the practice without: for the former, he willeth all the perfect to minde this, that is, to endeavour Pauls one thing, and to be followers of him, v. 17. forgetting that which is behind, and pressing toward the marke, and if any be otherwise minded in the matter of circumcision, if he minde the journey toward the garland, God shall cleare his doubts to him there is nothing here for Libertines, except we say, let all the godly minde to walke toward the garland,1 by practising circumcision, (as if that were the way) and by tollerating of others to practise Jewish Ceremonies, and if they be otherwise minded, God shall reveale their error, but in the meane time we are to suffer them to minde that, for the which Paul saith, their end is destruction, their belly their God, and they are dogs and evill doers, v. 19. 2. 3. as for the other rule of practise, v. 16. If it plead for Libertines, the sense must be, as far as we have obtained the minde of Christ let us practise, that is, let us be circumcised, and teach and professe and publish to others, all the heresies and blasphemies that seeme to us to be true doctrine according to this rule, and let us minde the same thing, let us contend for the garland, and walking according to our conscience our onely rule, and practising unlawfull ceremonies, and publishing and professing all the heresies we can, we minde the same crowne and garland. Now except walking according to the rule be restricted to carefull and diligent practising of these things in which we all agree, which must exclude a practising or publishing of doctrines controverted, and that we should abstain from practising and publishing of opinions in which we agree not, nothing can be extorted hence in favour of tolleration. Our brethren say, Let us gather Churches out of true Churches, and separate our selves from true Churches, and preach Familisme, Antinomianisme, Arrianisme, ⟨p. 100⟩and what not?
- 1The place Philip. 3. 15. Let us walk according to the same rule, &c. nothing […] toleration.The place Philip. 3. 15. Let us walke according to the same rule, &c. nothing 〈…〉 tolleration.
