A92140:424
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.
3 He is not persecuted for opinions, Because be cannot c•me up to that measure of light in judgement that other Saints attain unto, but he is put to death for an external act of Idolatry, that is seen, heard, proved by two witnesses. and for external abomination wrought in Israel, v. 5, 6. the Lord never puts a Judge to prove opinions, that remain within the walls of the heart, and are things of the mind, by witnesses, nor is the end of putting to death to force, beat, or cudgel him to the sound faith, with the sword, but to be avenged on hi• sin, to remove evil, to save the Israel of God from infection.
3 He is not persecuted for opinions, Because be cannot c•me up to that measure of light in judgement that other Saints attain unto, but he is put to death for an externall act of Idolatry, that is seen, heard, proved by two witnesses. and for externall abomination wrought in Israel, v. 5, 6. the Lord never puts a Judge to prove opinions, that remain within the walls of the heart, and are things of the minde, by witnesses, nor is the end of putting to death to force, beat, or cudgell him to the sound faith, with the sword, but to be avenged on hi• sin, to remove evill, to save the Israel of God from infection.
4 It is not single Idolatry that is his death,1 but his Idolatry in seducing others by word or example, he work• such abomination in Israel, v. 4. in the Church of God, which tendeth to seduce others.
- 1The end of punishing of false teachers with the sword is not their conversion to God (Ministeis of the Gospel only labour in that field) but the not perverting of souls and disturbing the safety of human societies.