A92140:512
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.
Answ. The Magistrate, as the Magistrate (should we speak accurately in such an intricate debate) doth not serve Christ as Mediator, for then all Magistrates, Heathen and Indian, were obliged to serve him, as the axiome proveth. Quod convenit [Greek or Hebrew], convenit [Greek or Hebrew]. But the Magistrate, as such a Magistrate, lustred with Christianity punisheth Gospel Heretics, and sinneth against his Magistratical office if he do not so: for Christianity spiritualizeth the exercise of marital, paternal, Magistratical power, and elevates them above their common nature in Christian Husbands, Fathers, Magistrates, which it cannot do in all husbands, as husbands; fathers, as fathers; Magistrates, as Magistrates: even suppose they be heathens, Quod non ni est non operatur.
Answ. The Magistrate, as the Magistrate (should wee speake accurately in such an intricate debate) doth not serve Christ as Mediator, for then all Magistrates, Heathen and Indian, were oblieged to serve him, as the axiome proveth. Quod convenit 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, convenit 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. But the Magistrate, as such a Magistrate, lustred with Christianity punisheth Gospel Hereticks, and sinneth against his Magistraticall office if hee doe not so: for Christianity spiritualizeth the exercise of maritall, paternall, Magistraticall power, and elevates them above their common nature in Christian Husbands, Fathers, Magistrates, which it cannot do in all husbands, as husbands; fathers, as fathers; Magistrates, as Magistrates: even suppose they be heathens, Quod non ni est non operatur.
Object. But why then may not a Christian Magistrate, as a Christian, if not as a Magistrate be a Vicar of Christ?
Answ. 1. Because Christ as Mediator; hath no Vicars, nor sub-mediators, & so the Minister, or the Christian Magistrate as the Christian Magistrate, cannot be the Vicar of Christ.