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Discussion of George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty
First Section (text) 
Subject: First Section (text)
From: Richard Bacon 
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 13:40:06 -0500

Here follows the Introduction to the reader.  Please remember
that in making comments, it is only necessary to quote the
portion of WS to which you are commenting.  Also, please note
that the full text of WS is available from the URL below.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Discussion: GWS. Post 1.
George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity=20
Reconciled with Christian Liberty
The true resolution of a present controversy=20
concerning liberty of conscience.
All text for this discussion taken from the=20
edition of this work, Copyright =A9 Naphtali=20
Press 1996.  Full text available at:=20
http://www.naphtali.com/naphtali
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=20
[Intro to the Reader]
TO THE CHRISTIAN & COURTEOUS=20
READER.
It cannot be unknown to any, except such as=20
are ignorant of Satan's devices, and altogether=20
strangers to the histories of former times, that=20
when the Church comes out of idolatry, and=20
out of bitter servitude and grievous pressures=20
of conscience, all her storms are not over her=20
head, but she begins to be assaulted and=20
afflicted more than before with heresies,=20
schisms, and home-bred disturbances. Which=20
through the manifold wisdom and over-ruling=20
dispensation of God, who works all things=20
according to the counsel of his will, is=20
England's lot this day, that this may be to=20
those in whom the Lord has no pleasure, "a=20
stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, that=20
they may go and fall backward, and be=20
broken; and snared, and taken:" that others,=20
"who are approved, may be made manifest;"=20
yea, that "many may be purified, and tried,=20
and made white;" and that in the issue God=20
may have the greater glory in making a=20
sovereign remedy out of poisonous=20
ingredients, and his people may say, "Blessed=20
be the Lord God of Israel who only doth=20
wondrous things."

But now will the sectaries be contented (as=20
Christ's witness in former times were) to be=20
examined and judged according to the word=20
of God, and if they are found to be what they=20
are accused to be, then suffer accordingly?=20
Nay, if so, they fear they shall run too great a=20
hazard. Therefore they cry out for toleration=20
and liberty of conscience, hereby going about=20
not only themselves to fish in troubled=20
waters, but to improve at once the manifold=20
advantages of sympathizing with the=20
principles of the most part of men amongst=20
us; for as it is a common plea and bond of=20
union among all heretics and sectaries, how=20
many soever their divisions and sub-divisions=20
are among themselves; yea, they give (in this)=20
the right hand of fellowship to the Prelatical=20
and malignant party, for they also put in for=20
liberty of conscience: and as carnal and=20
profane men desire nothing more than that=20
they may not be compelled to any religious=20
duty, but permitted to do what seems good in=20
their own eyes. So liberty of conscience is a=20
sweet and taking word among the less=20
discerning sort of godly people, newly come=20
out of the house of bondage, out of the Popish=20
and Prelatical tyranny; I say the less=20
discerning sort, because those of the godly=20
who have their senses exercised to discern=20
good and evil, know that liberty of heresy and=20
schism is no part of the liberty of conscience=20
which Christ has purchased to us at so dear a=20
rate. But is there no golden book and taking=20
bait for the Magistrate? Yes surely; for his=20
part he is told that he may punish any breach=20
of peace or civil justice, or a trespass against=20
the State and against civil authority, but yet=20
not put forth his power against any man for=20
heresy or schism, being matters of religion=20
and of conscience. As if both politicians and=20
divines had been in a great error when they=20
said that the end and use of Magistracy is to=20
make bonum hominem, as well as bonum=20
civem, a good man as well as a good=20
commonwealth's man. Shall I add further,=20
that all who wish well to the public from=20
principles either of religion or policy, want=20
not here their own temptations, persuading to=20
a toleration of sectaries, in regard of the=20
necessity of an union against the common=20
adversary, and the great hazard, if not certain=20
ruin, of the cause, by our own ruptures?


Dick Bacon
I'm your moderator, not your mother.