The argument of conscience arises when Massachusetts’s government inflicts punishment on three Baptists who defy the law. The argumentative exchange is in the form of letters, one from Roger Williams to Governor John Endicott, the other from Sir Richard Saltonstall to ministers John Cotton and John Wilson. Through these letters they express their concern of New England and how the Magistrate is taking matters into their own hands, and away from God’s will.
One of the three Baptist, John Clarke, argues his pure intentions and concern over the present state of New England and how they were upholding gospel. Through the use of bible versus, he argues for freedom of conscience. In strong disagreement for being punished, he stated in regards to the magistrate: “it cannot be expected that they should have any such liberty, much less authority, from him thus to persecute, prosecute, or enforce others.” Here, he is expressing that humans don’t have the right to dictate judgment or use force on someone’s spirit. Instead it should be left entirely in the hands of God.
In line with Clarke, Roger William writes to the Massachusetts government with serious concern: “I speak of conscience, a persuasion fixed in the mind and heart of a man, which enforceth him to judge and to do so, with respect to God.” Like Clarke, he believes that the men are taking their role too far by forcing men to align with their beliefs. Saltonstall also discusses the conscience in length, stating to them that in terms of other’s spirits and intentions, “I hope you do not assume to yourselves the infallibility of judgment.” Both Clarke and Saltonstall believe that human error and sin is too high for them to inflict any sort of judgment or punishment in the name of God.
John Cotton responds to the discontent of New England and how they are upholding the law. He defends his decision to punish the three Baptist saying the church order needed to be upheld. That being said he assured them he understood the difference between, “men’s invention and God’s institutions” and that all of their actions were done with the pure intention of upholding God’s institutions.
The uneasy feeling of the Puritan’s conscience and how to understand it is prevalent throughout the Puritan’s writing. Their thoughts align with the Puritan theology in that God is in control of all and that all of their actions are done to glorify Him. That being said, the confusion on how to go about that was and the cause of great concern, anxiety and confusion.
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