A92140:605
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
Chapter 21: Of the Samaritans, and of no compelling of Heathens. How the Covenant bindeth us.
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.
He addeth, if these words (we shall endeavour the extirpation of Schism,1 and whatsoever shall be found contrary to •ound doctrine, &c.) be levelled only against the Congregational men, it was not fa•re to draw them into a Covenant to destroy themselves. Its disservice to the State, to spoil the State of so many Godly and brave men, and seems to be but the birth of that challenge against these men (to be the Sanballets and Tobia's of this present work) and is the highest breach of love.
He addeth, if these words (we shall endeavour the extirpation of Schisme,1 and whatsoever shal be found contrary to •ound doctrine, &c.) be levelled onely against the Congregational men, it was not fa•re to draw them into a Covenant to destroy themselves. Its disservice to the State, to spoyle the State of so many Godly and brave men, and seemes to be but the birth of that challenge against these men (to bee the Sanballets and Tobia's of this present worke) and is the highest breach of love.
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Answ. It is apparent the Congregational men he meaneth are the Independents, who would have their Churches gathered out of true Churches. Who will not be called Schismatics, as if ensis and gladius were not one thing,1 then this Author levelled these words against Presbyterians, as the Schismatics, for where ever one Church is rent from another true Church, one of the two is the Schismatic Church; sure but the Author will not have Independents the Schismatics, then was it fair to level these words in the Covenant against Presbyterians, and draw them in a Covenant to destroy both their soul and body?