A92140:444
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.
The Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax may say, that they did fight all this time for liberty of conscience, against both Prelatical and Presbyterial thraldom of the consciences of the free born English, and therefore though the Parliament command them to di• band, they must have liberty of conscience up, the Covenant down, and have a perpetual standing Army, &c. For in war, peace, pursuing or forbearing, in marching from one Kingdom to another, in making treaties and Covenants with other Nations, they were to consult with the oracle and immediately inspired Prophets, the opportunity whereof we have not, and so we have no be•ter warrant for all these, for peace and war, then for killing of blasphemers, who are known to God only by this reason, and that is no warrant at all.
The Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax may say, that they did fight all this time for liberty of conscience, against both Prelaticall and Presbyteriall thraldome of the consciences of the free born English, and therefore though the Parliament command them to di• band, they must have liberty of conscience up, the Covenant downe, and have a perpetuall standing Army, &c. For in war, peace, pursuing or forbearing, in marching from one Kingdome to another, in making treaties and Covenants with other Nations, they were to consult with the oracle and immediatly inspired Prophets, the opportunity wherof we have not, and so we have no be•ter warrant for all these, for peace and war, then for killing of blasphemers, who are known to God onely by this reason, and that is no warrant at all.
5. This is to say, there was faith, certainty, and infallibility, clearness, light, and more knowledge of God under the Jews twilight, law darkness of ceremonies, then we have, and now since oracles ceased, Scepticisms, conjectures, doubtings, blind, and loose uncertainties is all ou• faith, contrary to that the Scripture saith, the Jews for all their oracles were in the dark, and now day springs from on high and visits us, and gives light to them that sits in darkness,