A92140:608
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.
3. The Author hints at a story that fell out in the Assembly of Divines where I was witness, Mr. Phi. Nigh having sworn to endeavour the preservation of Presbyterian government in the Covenant, was pleased in the face of the Assembly in the hearing of that renowned General of England, for the time, the Earle of Essex, and many other honourable and noble persons, to declaim against Presbyterial government, as formidable to States and free Kingdoms, as of old some called Jerusalem the rebellious City, and the Prelates the same way burdened the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, but Mr. Alexander Henderson, a man for piety, learning, prudency and singular moderation, from zeal, not from the spirit of gall and wormwood, as the Author slanderously speaketh, said they were the words of Tobiah and Sanballet, to hinder the work of Reformation; now whether that worthy man spake what hath now come to pass, let the godly Divines of the Assembly be judge.
3. The Author hints at a story that fell out in the Assembly of Divines where I was witnesse, Mr. Phi. Nye having sworne to endeavour the preservation of Presbyterian government in the Covenant, was pleased in the face of the Assembly in the hearing of that renowned Generall of England, for the time, the Earle of Essex, and many other honourable and noble persons, to declaime against Presbyteriall government, as formidable to States and free Kingdomes, as of old some called Jerusalem the rebellious City, and the Prelates the same way burdened the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland, but Mr. Alexander Henderson, a man for piety, learning, prudency and singular moderation, from zeale, not from the spirit of gall and wormewood, as the Authour slanderously speaketh, said they were the words of Tobiah and Sanballet, to hinder the worke of Reformation; now whether that worthy man spake what hath now come to passe, let the godly Divines of the Assembly be judge.
4. We know no service to the State done by these men, but that they set up with the sword all the blasphemous and heretical Sects and Religions that Th. Muncer or John of Leydon fancied contrary to the oath of God, for they all professed they were for the Covenant, many of them did swear it, with what conscience to perform, let Cromwell and others speak, God will not be mocked, which is such disservice to the State of England as cannot but draw down from heaven the vengeance of the Lord, and the vengeance of his Temple upon the land; or was it fair when the Congregational men did hide their conclusion of liberty of conscience, would keep that intended Idol in the bottom of their heart, and join in Covenant with Presbyterians, and swear against multiformity of Religions in words, known to be contrary to the sense of those who drew up the Covenant, contrary to sense and reason, and the same words of the Covenant, and now obtrude on us multiformity for uniformity.