A92140:435
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.
2 We desire a reason why the gentleness of the Son of Gods government should free the blasphemer, and the soul-murderer, from sadder, yea from all bodily punishment, and not free him that destroys the body also. Or how all the Sons of Levi saw by an immediate oracle that all that had worshipped the golden Calf, Exod. 32. had done it with such high presumption, as made that Idolatry worthy of death, which otherwise was not worthy of death; and it is clear the charge was without exception, v. 27. slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the like I say of all that joined to Baal-peor. And when Asa compelled so many thousands both of Judah and Israel to swear a Covenant, and that they should be put to death, that would not seek the Lord, 2 Chro. 15. whether Asa and all the under-Judges (for Asa in his own person could not do it) had a deputed dominion over the consciences to force them, and whether he consulted the oracle to know who sought not the Lord, and refused the Covenant out of mere weakness, as not being able to see how Asa, who was no Prophet, and a Prince for eminency of conversing with God far inferior to Moses, was not a little wide, in pretended zeal, to urge the Law with an oath, and no less then death on the refusers to seek God and the breakers of the Covenant.
2 We desire a reason why the gentlenesse of the sonne of Gods government should free the blasphemer, and the soul-murtherer, from sadder, yea from all bodily punishment, and not free him that destroyes the body also. Or how all the Sons of Levi saw by an immediate oracle that all that had worshipped the golden Calfe, Exod. 32. had done it with such high presumption, as made that Idolatry worthy of death, which otherwise was not worthy of death; and it is cleare the charge was without exception, v. 27. slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the like I say of all that joyned to Baal-peor. And when Asa compelled so many thousands both of Judah and Israel to sweare a Covenant, and that they should be put to death, that would not seeke the Lord, 2 Chro. 15. whether Asa and all the under-Judges (for Asa in his owne person could not doe it) had a deputed dominion over the consciences to force them, and whether he consulted the oracle to know who sought not the Lord, and refused the Covenant out of meere weaknesse, as not being able to see how Asa, who was no Prophet, and a Prince for eminency of conversing with God farre inferior to Moses, was not a little wide, in pretended zeale, to urge the Law with an oath, and no lesse then death on the refusers to seeke God and the breakers of the Covenant.