A92140:723
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.
The question seems harder, when these of a false Religion, in regard of their nearness, and vicinity to a Kingdom professing the true Religion, when as they may infect them, or if they be in one National Covenant, and under the oath of God, to endeavour, the extirpation of all false religions, and what is contrary to sound doctrine. It is certain, the Kingdom of Judah might justly have avenged the Apostasy of the ten Tribes from Davids house, and from Jerusalem where the Lord had set his name, for the worshipping of the Golden Calves, if the Lord by his Prophet had not expressly forbidden them to fight against their brethren 1 Kings 12. And the children of Israel did justly attempt War against the two Tribes and the half, because they erected ⟨p. 303⟩a new Altar for worship, as they conceived, which was Apostasy from the Covenant of God, and the true Religion which they were to maintain by the Oath of Joshua 22. 12, 13, 15, 16. and to bring the wrath of God on all the Tribes as Achan did, Vers, 20, No doubt, saith Calvin on the place, They were angry with an holy Zeal, for saith he on Vers.1 12. The Sword is not given to every man in his hand, but every one according to his calling ought (by this place) manifestly and constantly to defend the true Religion. And if the wrath of God came on all the people (saith Calvin) for the secret sin of one man, much more the people shall not go unpunished, if they dissemble the manifest Idolatry of many. Piscator saith, It was piety in the Tribes that they resolve to make war with the two Tribes and the half, for their defection from the true God Such was their Zeal (say the Divines of England) that they would rather hazard their lives, then suffer Gods true Religion to be corrupted; for God had ordained there should be but one place for public service, and sacrifices, and but one Altar Leviticus 17. 8, 9. Deut. 12. 5. 7. 13. 27. Exodus 20. 24