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Order of Contents
Articles 6
Books 3
On the New England ‘Libertines’ 1
Latin 2
On the Binding Law of God 1
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Articles
1500’s
Calvin, John – Against the Libertaines
‘John Calvin: God Works Providence in Three Ways’ in ‘Calvin & Beza on Providence: Translations by Knox’ trans. John Knox (1545, 1558, 1560; RBO, 2021), pp. 5-9
This piece by Calvin is nearly a whole chapter from his French work against the Libertines.
The Libertines, having such a high view of God’s eternal decree, held to what is known in philosophy as a form of Occasionalism, that all events that occur are directly and immediately worked by God. True secondary causation is eliminated. One main problem with this is that it makes God the Author of Sin, something that the Libertines expressly affirmed. Calvin here not only repudiates this blasphemy, but he also lays out three ways (and only three ways) in which God brings all things to pass through his providence, herein establishing true secondary causation.
ch. 7, ‘Of the Peculiar Manner & Form of Speech used by the Quintinists (i.e. a pack of Libertines then Living)’ in Against the Libertines, trans. in Thomas Hall, A Practical & Polemical Commentary, or, Exposition upon the Third & Fourth Chapters of the Latter Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothy… (London, 1658), on 2 Tim. 3:8, pp. 163-78
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1600’s
Chandler, John – A Seasonable Word & Call to all those called Ranters or Libertines throughout the Three Nations, to Come into the True Faith & Pure Fear of the Lord (London, 1659) 20 pp.
Reynell, Edward – An Advice Against Libertinism: showing the Great Danger Thereof, & Exhorting All to Zeal of the Truth (London, 1659) 113 pp.
Reynell was a lawyer.
Burnet, Gilbert – The Libertine Overthrown, or a Mirror for Atheists, wherein they may clearly see their Prodigious Follies, Vast Extravagancies, Notorious Impieties & Absurdities: Containing a Compendious Account of the Egregious, Vicious Life… of John, Earl of Rochester… (London, 1690) 16 pp.
Ames, Richard – The Rake, or the Libertine’s Religion, a Poem (London, 1693)
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Books
1500’s
Treatises Against the Anabaptists & Against the Libertines ed. & trans. Benjamin Farley Buy (1545; Baker Academic, 1982/2001)
For background, see:
Farley, Ben W. – ‘The Theology of Calvin’s Tract Against the Libertines‘ in Calvin Studies I: Papers Presented at a Colloquium on Calvin Studies at Davidson College Presbyterian Church and Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, March 19–20, 1982, pp. 16-28
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1600’s
Byfield, Richard – A Short Treatise Describing the True Church of Christ & the Evils of Schism, Anabaptism & Libertinism… Delivered in Two Sermons… [Temple Defilers Destroyed] (London, 1653) 40 pp. on 1 Cor. 3:17
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On the New England ‘Libertines’
This was published during the Salem Witch Trials.
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Latin Books
1500’s
Calvin, John – A Brief Instruction Fortifying the Faithful Against the Errors of the Sect of Anabaptists; the Same Against the Fanatic & Furious Sect of the Libertines, which Call Themselves the Spiritual Ones (Strasbourg, 1546) 140 pp. This has been translated into English (referenced above).
For background, see:
Farley, Ben W. – ‘The Theology of Calvin’s Tract Against the Libertines‘ in Calvin Studies I: Papers Presented at a Colloquium on Calvin Studies at Davidson College Presbyterian Church and Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, March 19–20, 1982, pp. 16-28
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On the Binding Law of God
Taylor, Thomas – Regula Vitæ, the Rule of the Law under the Gospel. Containing a Discovery of the Pestiferous Sect of Libertines, Antinomians & Sons of Belial, Lately Sprung up both to Destroy the Law & Disturb the Faith of the Gospel: wherein is Manifestly Proved that God sees Sin in Justified Persons (London, 1631)
Taylor was an English puritan.
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