A92140:698
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.
3. The Samaritans worshipping a false God, They know not what, Joh. 4 22. and no salvation being in their Religion, cannot be called Heretics; and we confess, to burn Cities, because the in-dwellers are of a false Religion, is no fit way to convert them to the true Religion; and because the Apostles, to whom God hath not given the sword, but only the spiritual armour of the word, 2 Cor. 10. 5. are not to use fire and sword, and that out of a vindictive spirit against Samaritans, who despise Christ and the Gospel, it is no consequence. Ergo, Christian Magistrates ⟨p. 291⟩by this place, Luke 9. must not use the sword against false teachers and apostates.
3. The Samaritans worshipping a false God, They know not what, Joh. 4 22. and no salvation being in their Religion, cannot be called Hereticks; and we confesse, to burn Cities, because the in-dwellers are of a false Religion, is no fit way to convert them to the true Religion; and because the Apostles, to whom God hath not given the sword, but onely the spirituall armour of the word, 2 Cor. 10. 5. are not to use fire and sword, and that out of a vindictive spirit against Samaritans, who despise Christ and the Gospell, it is no consequence. Ergo, Christian Magistrates ⟨p. 291⟩by this place, Luke 9. must not use the sword against false teachers and apostates.
4. I grant, Christ the Mediator, and the Ambassadors of peace, whose office it is to save souls, are not to kill men because they are of another Religion, then they are, or because they seduce souls; nor are we to neglect what Beza saith against Monfortius, p. 160. in opus. de punien. heret. Elijah did from Gods command, what he did; the Disciples call for fire, from a wild spirit. 2. It was not a proper function for the Apostles, nor had they any extraordinary calling from God, as Elijah had. 3. There is one consideration of Elijah, who came to restore Religion after great apostasy; another of Christ who came to propagate the Gospel. I see not much inconvenience in the answer of Swarez,