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Discussion of George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty
GWS-16 <text> 
Subject: GWS-16 
From: Richard Bacon 
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 10:30:22 -0500

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Discussion: GWS. Post 16.
George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty
The true resolution of a present controversy concerning liberty of=
 conscience.
All text for this discussion taken from the edition of this work, Copyright
=A9 Naphtali Press 1996.  Full text available at: http://www.naphtali.com
Archives of the Westminster Forum are at: http://www.fpcr.org/westminster
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[Part III continued. Objection 2, cannot force belief

2. OBJECTION TWO. Another negative argument is this. Such a coercive power=
=20
in the matters of religion, makes men hypocrites and seven times more=20
the children of hell. Christ's ordinances put upon a whole city or nation,=
=20
may more civilize and moralize, but never Christianize them, says Mr.
Williams=20
(ch. 82). 1. I answer, this argument does utterly condemn Josiah's=20
reformation as sinful, for he caused all Judah to stand to the covenant,=20
as we heard before from 2 Chron. 34:32; yet Judah thereby became more
hypocritical. Treacherous Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole=20
heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord, speaking of those very days of Josiah=
=20
(Jer. 3:6, 10).

2. This argument makes also against the punishment of adulteries, murderers,=
=20
thefts, robberies, etc., for unless filthy lust, hatred, and covetousness=20
in the heart are mortified, and men convert freely and sincerely, the=20
reducing of them to a moral conversation makes them but hypocrites, and=20
nearer hell than before.

3. There are two sorts of Christ's ordinances: some for the communion of=20
the saints; others, for the conversion of sinners. It is far from our=20
thoughts to admit, much less to compel, a whole city, or nation=20
promiscuously, to the use of the former. But yet converting or reducing
ordinances may and ought to put upon all whom they concern. The means must=
=20
be used and men's hearts left to God.


Dick Bacon
Poster of the text and keeper of the order.