A92140:699
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.
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,1 They were not to use violence and threatening against the Samaritans, but to shake the dust of their feet against them; for Christ and his Disciples bare not the sword as Magistrates. Whatever arguments Libertines extort from these places, 2which say Christ is so meek, as he shall not cry, nor strive, nor break the bruised reed; the Ministers must be so gentle, that they must teach with meekness, Isa. 42. 1, 2. 2 Tim. 2. 25. Not strike, but be apt to teach, and keep themselves to the foolishness of the Gospel;3 and only shake the dust of their feet off against rejecters, Acts 18. and not judge before the time, 1 Cor. 4. 5. for the sword may make a whole Nation of hypocrites, Isa. 10. but can never recover them out of the hands of Satan. I say whatever arguments they throw by the hair from these places, 4are but tokens of the prejudices of Libertines.
4. I grant, Christ the Mediator, and the Embassadors of peace, whose office it is to save soules, 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. Elias 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 Elias had. 3. There is one consideration of Elias, who came to restore Religion after great apostacy; another of Christ who came to propagate the Gospell. I see not much inconvenience in the answer of Swarez,