Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
Concl. The former considerations being clear, we hold that such a Church-covenant is a conceit destitute of all authority of God’s Word, Old or New Testament, and therefore to be rejected as a way of men’s devising,
1. Argum. All will-worship laying a band on the Conscience, where God hath laid none, is damnable; but to tie the oath of God to one particular duty rather then another, so as you cannot, without such an oath, enter into such a state, nor have title and right to the seals of grace and God’s Ordinances, is will-worship, and that by virtue of a divine Law, and is a binding of the Conscience where God hath not bound it. …
I prove the assumption; for a Minister to swear the oath of fidelity to his flock, is lawful; but to tie an oath so to his Ministry, as to say the Apostles teach, he cannot be a minister who sweareth not that oath, is to lay a bond on the Conscience, where God hath laid none. That a father swear to perform the duties of a father, a master the duties of a master towards his servant, is lawful; but to lay a bond on him, that he is in Conscience, and before God no father, no master, except he swear to perform those duties, is to lay a bond on the Conscience where God hath laid none.
So to swear subjection to such a Ministry and visible Church, is lawful; but to tie by an Apostolic Law and practice the oath of God so to such duties, as to make this Church-oath the essential form of such membership, so as you cannot enter into Church-state, nor have right to the Seals of the Covenant without such an oath, is to bind where God hath not bound; for there is no Law of God, putting upon any Church-oath such a state, as that it is the essential form of Church-membership, without the which a man is no Church-member, and the Church visible, not swearing this oath is no Church.
For the reference, see:
reformedcovenanter.wordpress.com
1. Argum. All will-worship laying a band on the Conscience, where God hath laid none, is damnable; but to tie the oath of God to one particular duty rather then another, so as you cannot, without such an oath, enter into such a state, nor have title and right to the seals of grace and God’s Ordinances, is will-worship, and that by virtue of a divine Law, and is a binding of the Conscience where God hath not bound it. …
I prove the assumption; for a Minister to swear the oath of fidelity to his flock, is lawful; but to tie an oath so to his Ministry, as to say the Apostles teach, he cannot be a minister who sweareth not that oath, is to lay a bond on the Conscience, where God hath laid none. That a father swear to perform the duties of a father, a master the duties of a master towards his servant, is lawful; but to lay a bond on him, that he is in Conscience, and before God no father, no master, except he swear to perform those duties, is to lay a bond on the Conscience where God hath laid none.
So to swear subjection to such a Ministry and visible Church, is lawful; but to tie by an Apostolic Law and practice the oath of God so to such duties, as to make this Church-oath the essential form of such membership, so as you cannot enter into Church-state, nor have right to the Seals of the Covenant without such an oath, is to bind where God hath not bound; for there is no Law of God, putting upon any Church-oath such a state, as that it is the essential form of Church-membership, without the which a man is no Church-member, and the Church visible, not swearing this oath is no Church.
For the reference, see:
Samuel Rutherford on church covenants as conscience-binding will-worship
Concl. The former considerations being clear, we hold that such a Church-covenant is a conceit destitute of all authority of God’s Word, Old or New Testament, and therefore to be rejected as a way …
reformedcovenanter.wordpress.com
