A free disputation against pretended liberty of conscience tending to resolve doubts moved

2 Nor did these that worshipped Idols and the false teachers, and such as offered their children to Molech, who were surely by the Law to be put to death, deny the word of God more then the Heretic now: and Jeremiah useth the weapon of the word of God against them, as Moses was to use the sword against them, Deut, 17. 3, 4, 5, 6. Lev. 20. 2. as we read Jer. 7. 13. And they have built the high places of Tophet which is in the valley of the son of Hinnon to •urne their sons and their daughters in the fire, and he useth an argument from the word of God to convince them, which I commanded them not, neither entered it in my heart. Libertines might say, why should Jeremiah speak of a command of God, for though our Heretics under the Gospel acknowledge the word of God, yet the false teachers and Apostates that were to dye by the law, do but mock the word of God▪ and therefore the Lord should not use this argument, which I command not. But to me is clear, they were so far from denying the word of God, as our Antiscripturists do, that for the offering of their sons to God, they alleged both Abraham's example who was bidden offer Isaac his only son to God, and the Scripture, for if we (say they) are to offer the best of the flock to God, and its little enough to so great […] Lord, far more are we to offer the dearest thing we have, to wi• our sons and daughters: God answers, What ye offer to me must be commanded in my law, but it never entered into my heart to bid you offer your children to me. Now if these had both denied God their Creator, and his word, there had been no other sword to be drawn against them but that of iron.

2 Nor did these that worshiped Idols and the false teachers, and such as offered their children to Molech, who were surely by the Law to be put to death, deny the word of God more then the Heretick now: and Jeremiah useth the weapon of the word of God against them, as Moses was to use the sword against them, Deut, 17. 3, 4, 5, 6. Lev. 20. 2. as we read Jer. 7. 13. And they have built the high places of Tophee which is in the vally of the sonne of Hinnon to urne their sonnes and their daughters in the fire, and he useth an argument from the word of God to convince them, which I commanded them not, neither entred it in my heart. Libertines might say, why should Jeremiah speake of a command of God, for though our Hereticks under the Gospell acknowledge the word of God, yet the false teachers and Apostates that were to dye by the law, doe but mocke the word of God and therefore the Lord should not use this argument, which I command not. But to mee is cleare, they were so farre from denying the word of God, as our Antiscripturists doe, that for the offering of their sonnes to God, they alledged both Abrahams example who was bidden offer Isaak his onely sonne to God, and the Scripture, for if we (say they) are to offer the best of the flock to God, and its little enough to so great Lord, farre more are we to offer the dearest thing we have, to wi our sonnes and daughters: God answers, What yee offer to mee must be commanded in my law, but it never entred into my heart to bid you offer your children to mee. Now if these had both denyed God their Creator, and his word, there had beene no other sword to be drawne against them but that of iron.