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Discussion of George Gillespie's
Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty
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GWS-19 <text>
Subject: GWS-19
From: Richard Bacon
Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 11:25:05 -0500
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Discussion: GWS. Post 19.
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 (c) Naphtali
Press 1996. Full text available at:
http://www.naphtali.com/naphtali
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[Part III continued. Point 4 continued, liberty
of conscience answered.]
(2.) But let us see whether this Samaritan is
happier in his second argument, which is this:
"It's known that the fathers, general councils,
national assemblies, synods and parliaments
in their times have been grossly mistaken;
and though the present times are wiser than
the former, etc., yet since there remains a
possibility of error, notwithstanding never so
great presumptions to the contrary, one sort
of men are not to compel another, since this
hazard is run thereby, that he who is in an
error may be the constrainer of him who is in
the truth."
ANSWER. [1.] Farewell Parliaments, if this
argument should hold good. The Parliament
may fine no man, imprison no man, banish no
man; they may compel no man to
assessments, taxes, excise, billeting of
soldiers, etc. And why forsooth? because they
may not presume an infallible and unerring
spirit, but may err, and have erred as well as
other men.
[2.] He argues from the hazard of
compulsion, it may fall out that he who is in
the truth may be constrained and persecuted.
True, it may fall out so; and so the Lord save
us that we never be accessory to the
persecuting of any who are in the truth, for so
it may be again through men's corruption and
abuse of the Magistrate's power (so the best
things may be abused).
But the liberty of conscience which he pleads
for, runs so far greater hazard, even the
hazard of not only shaking but overturning
truth, peace, and religion, and ordinances, and
Church, and souls, and all. To the ruin of all
these, and to a thousand mischiefs, this kind
of liberty prepares a broad way, and opens a
wide door; and it is better, as he said, to live
where nothing is lawful, than where
everything is lawful.
[3.] It follows not that because Parliaments
may not presume of an unerring spirit,
therefore they cannot be certain that they are
in the truth concerning this or that particular,
so that they may confidently compel men to
it, without fear of fighting against God. The
acknowledgment of a possibility of error, and
that we know but in part as long as we are in
this world, may well consist with men's
fulness of persuasion from the light of God's
word, concerning this or that truth to be
believed, or duty to be done.
Dick Bacon
Poster of the text and keeper of the order.