A92140:701
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.
2 The argument hath no foot, except it so run, That which is no means of the converting of souls, Christ will not have to be used, for the conversion of souls. But such is bodily violence, we grant all, for the Sword avengeth, hurting of souls, but is not a means ordained of Christ for the converting of souls, or if it do, it is by accident as afflictions do, as Hos. 5. in their affliction, they will seek me early.
2 The argument hath no foot, except it so run, That which is no means of the converting of soules, Christ will not have to be used, for the conversion of soules. But such is bodily violence, we grant al, for the Sword avengeth, hurting of soules, but is not a meanes ordained of Christ for the converting of soules, or if it doe, it is by accident as afflictions doe, as Hos. 5. in their affliction, they will seeke mee early.
3 If Christ be merciful and meek, and will have his Ministers ⟨p. 293⟩with gentleness and patience to instruct gain-saying sinners, then will he not have the Magistrate to draw his Sword and be severe against seducing teachers, D. Adam Stewart in his learned and solid answer to Mr. Goodwin of Right de jure, 1denies the proposition, and so do the learned professors of Leiden answer Arminians objecting the same, and say Christ is meek to repenting sinners, 2but a severe judge and a revenger of ill-doers Re. 2. 6. 9. 14. 20, 21, 22, 24. his garments are red & died with the blood of his enemies, he is so a Lamb, as he is a Lyon.
3 If Christ be merciful and meek, and wil have his Ministers ⟨p. 293⟩