A92140:731
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. The Heathen Law in the Letter would prove that none should be rebuked, or argued against, whatever Religion he chose; Maximius proclaimed, That all men should use what Religion they like best, Eus. l. 9. c. 10. But 1. Maximius, out of natural pity, because he had before persecuted Christians, did this. 2. Diocletian and Maximianus took Churches from them, he restored them; hence followed peace till an. 130. The Council of Constantinople, 1. by Theodosius senior, Theodoret, l. 5• c. 7. Socrates, l. 5. c. 8. The Council of Ephesus, 1. By Theodos. junior. Evagrius, l. 1. c. 2. So Imperator Justinus. l. 44. ad Maenam Patriarcham de Monachis & Monasteriis separandis & de Episc. & cler. Eusebius de vita cons. l. 3. c. 25. Epistolam libella ad Synoda constitutionem. The Bishops of the second general Council (if there was any of them general) writ to the Emperor Theodosius, We desire your clemency, that you by your Letters would confirm the Decrees of the Council (of Chalcedon) and command that it be ratified and established: which he did. See also Constantius his power, prescribing to the Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia the subject matter they should treat upon, and commanded ten of each Council to come and give him an account of their proceedings. S•zomen, l. 4. c. 6. Theodosius and Valentin• command the Council of Ephesus to send them some Bishops to acquaint them with the causes and motives of their deliberations. Relatio Synodi Ephesinae, quae est tom. 1. concil. The second Council of Nice, which some call the seventh General Council, relate the like to the Emperor at Constantinople, Theodoret, l. 5. c. 8. Zonaras, tom. 3. anat. There be two edicts of the Emperors, Valentinian and Martian, confirming the ⟨p. 308⟩Council of Chalcedon, so act. 3. Chalc. to. 1. Conc. all which say, the Emperours, de facto, commanded as Magistrates, Church-men to determine according to the word; and corrected such as contravened.1 And though Picus Mirandula saith well, No man hath power of opinions so, as if he will, he may have another opinion, which though it may bear, that opinions fall not under free-will, yet the venting of them to others, is to Mirancula, a free act and punishable. We know the Edict of Vale•inian and Martian, of capital punishment against Such as shall attempt to teach things unlawful.