A92140:352
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.
So we easily answer that ignorant objection of fantastical Sectaries, 1in needless Pamphlets and Queries, smelling of non-sense and self-conceit, speaking they know not what: If the sword be used against errors to suppress them, then must the Magistrate command and compel men of tender consciences to sin,2 and to do against the light of their conscience; for what is not of faith, is sin. And the Spirit himself waits and violates not the liberty of the reasonable soul, by superseding the faculties thereof, but approves every truth to the understanding, and moves the will without violence, with a rational force: Shall man be more zealous for God, then God is for himself? God himself doth not force men, but call them to repentance.—If the word (calling) be considered, whether will it warrant any further means then arguments, persuasions, and entreaties (make them as forcible us you can) if you hold the fear of punishment over men, it must be the fear of divine punishment, &c.
So we easily answer that ignorant objection of phantasticall Sectaries, 1in needlesse Pamphlets and Queries, smelling of non-sense and selfe-conceit, speaking they know not what: If the sword be used against errours to suppresse them, then must the Magistrate command and compell men of tender consciences to sinne,2 and to doe against the light of their conscience; for what is not of faith, is sinne. And the Spirit himselfe waites and violates not the liberty of the reasonable soule, by superseding the faculties thereof, but approves every truth to the understanding, and moves the will without violence, with a rationall force: Shall man be more zealous for God, then God is for himselfe? God himselfe doth not force men, but call them to repentance.—If the word (calling) be considered, whether will it warrant any further meanes then arguments, perswasions, and intreaties (make them as forceable us you can) if you hold the feare of punishment over men, it must be the feare of divine punishment, &c.
- 1Ancient bonds of liberty of Conscience, see. 1. c. 6. p. 26.