A92140:922
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
Chapter 28: Divers other Arguments for pretended Toleration, answered.
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.
7 Carnal weapons then could have produced spiritual ⟨p. 391⟩repentance, saith, and obedience, but steel hath lost its spiritual virtue now; but sure though the Jews administration was rough, servile, and harder, and ours under Christ, milder, sweeter, and easier, Gal. 4. 7. yet were these Laws of Moses righteous, but are not made milder, as Socinians say, the will and understanding were not then compelled to obedience, but now led with persuasions, and reasons; but since the creation of the world to this day, the understanding and will, keep ever their natural way of working.
7 Carnal weapons then could have produced spirituall ⟨p. 391⟩repentance, saith, and obedience, but steele hath lost its spirituall vertue now; but sure though the Jews administration was rough, servile, and harder, and ours under Christ, milder, sweeter, and easier, Gal. 4. 7. yet were these Laws of Moses righteous, but are not made milder, as Socinians say, the will and understanding were not then compelled to obedience, but now led with perswasions, and reasons; but since the creation of the world to this day, the understanding and will, keep ever their naturall way of working.
8. And that which our Saviour calleth the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 7. 12. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; was the Law of Nature, and the Moral Law, and the doctrine of the Prophets in the time of Moses, and in the Kingdom of the Messiah, though Libertines put a false gloss on it, for I would not that others should punish me, if I murder, steal, speak lies in the name of the Lord, though if I had authority, I should will to punish others, that are guilty of these crimes, for so they expound it; now if we should not will to punish others, for their conscience under the New Testament; neither should the godly Magistrate in Moses and Davids days will to punish others for their conscience; and if we should not will to rebuke and excommunicate heretics now: neither ought the godly Jews to will to do the same to others, because of old, men did not will to be punished with the Sword, rebuked, or excommunicated for their conscience.