A92140:735
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.
Answ. If we do so tempt them by a sinful way, as a sinful injuring, and railing on them, or by a wicked course, it is sure it doth deserve punishment by the Magistrate; but the act of so counselling and tempting to sin, though E• conditione operis, it be soul-ruin, yet it is not such as deserveth death. Otherwayes, killing, adultery, sorcery, bestiality, tempt also to sin and soul-ruin, besides the other injury in them, against the life and chastity of men.
Answ. If we do so tempt them by a sinfull way, as a sinfull injuring, and railing on them, or by a wicked course, it is sure it doth deserve punishment by the Magistrate; but the act of so counselling and tempting to sin, though E• conditione operis, it be soule-ruin, yet it is not such as deserveth death. Otherwayes, killing, adultery, sorcery, beastiality, tempt also to sinne and soule-ruine, besides the other injury in them, against the life and ch•stity of men.
2 The Proposition is proved, because the will of God can be the Creator, and first Author of nothing, but which is morally good. For the Scripture is as full in the duties ⟨p. 301⟩of the second table touching mercy and righteousness, as in the duties of the first, touching piety and religion, and any thing pretended to be moral, hath God for its author, in either the first or the second table of the Law, nor can the will of man be the author of any thing morally good, and will-righteousness, is as unlawful as will-worship, or will-piety, since the word is a perfect rule in matters of doctrine, or faith, or of life, manners and conversation, and teacheth the Judge what he should do, Deut. 17. 18, 19, 20. Psalm. 119. 9.