The Westminster Assembly instructed the Houses of Parliament to see that Anabaptist and Antinomian errorists were restrained:
[…] (4) That all Ministers who teach or divulge, Baptizing of Infants to bee unlawful, The Morall law to be no rule for a Christian to walke by, That the Ministers of the Church of England are no true Ministers, & their churches no true churches, That Seperation from them is necessary, & churches to be gathered out of those churches, That power of Ordination belongeth to the people without officers, That fixed Assemblies & a settled ministry in them are not necessary, That liberty is to bee given to all opinions & sorts of Worship, & That the Civill Magistrate hath noe power to restrain them, or any other points of Anabaptisme & Antinomianisme, bee commanded to bring in the grounds & reasons of their opinions in a brief & compendious manner in writing under their hands unto the Assembly, or such as the Honourable Houses of Parliament shall appoint to be examined according to the Word of God: & in the mean time be commanded to forbear all teaching, printing, or other wise divulging of them. […]
Henry Robrough Scriba.
Adoniram Byfield scriba
The humble Advise of the Assembly of divines, for preventing the mischiefes that will arise from, & follow upon the divulging the dangerous opinions of Antinomianisme & Anabaptisme, 5 Sep. 1644 in The minutes and papers of the Westminster Assembly 1643-1652, ed. Chad VanDixhoorn (5 vols, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), v, 87-8.
From the Solemn League and Covenant:
“That we shall in like manner, without respect of persons, endeavour the extirpation of Popery, prelacy (that is, Church government by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy), superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness, lest we partake in other men’s sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues; and that the Lord may be one, and His name one in the three kingdoms.
III.
We shall with the same sincerity, reality and constancy, in our several vocations, endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms, and to preserve and defend the King’s Majesty’s person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms, that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesty’s just power and greatness.
IV.
We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be incendiaries, malignants or evil instruments, by hindering the reformation of religion, dividing the King from his people, or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any faction or parties amongst the people, contrary to the league and covenant, that they may be brought to public trial and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the supreme judicatories of both kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.”
I don’t have any data on this author, but the point is well received:
How should the believer respond to all of these things?
“1 Timothy 5:22
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep yourself pure.
It was a frequent petition of the illustrious St. , “Lord, forgive other men’s sins!” It is a petition which we all should constantly present to God; for we, all of us, in a greater or less degree, have been instrumental in producing that iniquity which deluges the world.
I. We are to show you BY WHAT MEANS WE MAY PARTAKE OF OTHER MEN’S SINS. We partake of other men’s sins by uttering those sentiments which tend to subvert morality, or diminish our horror for guilt. If we propagate loose doctrines, if we scoff at serious piety, if we persuade men that an holy and heavenly life is not necessary, “if we call evil good and good evil,” we are murdering souls.
II. That we may in future be more guarded, LET US ATTEND TO SOME OF THOSE MOTIVES WHICH ENFORCE THE INJUNCTION OF THE APOSTLE.
III. SOME DIRECTIONS, TO ENABLE YOU TO COMPLY WITH THE INJUNCTIONS OF THE APOSTLE.
1. Be careful that your own heart and life are holy. Sin is infectious; and as long as you are polluted with it, you must communicate its poison to those with whom you associate. Besides, if your own life is unholy, your conscience will prevent you from faithfully reproving sin in others, or your ill example will render your reproofs inefficacious.
2. Cultivate a high value and love for the souls of men. That which we love we shall not readily injure; and if we have a proper regard for immortal souls we shall rather forego many pleasures than give a wound to them.
3. Mourn before God for the sins of your brethren. When God passed through Jerusalem to smite it, He spared none but those who cried and sighed for the abominations that were done within it (Ezekiel 9:4).
4. If we would not partake of the sins of others, we must reprove them.
(H. Kollock.)”
http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/kollock/partaking_of_other_men’s_sins.htm
You will notice that the church, by and large are vigorous against certain sins. We pick our poisons and ignore the rest. The most relevant sins are those which are most insidious. For instance, all believers are guilty of sins of the tongue. More believers sin in this manner more so than the abortionist, yet we don’t rail against sins of the tongue in the same regard. We believe that this sin is less heinous-and so it may be, outwardly.
Notice how it is listed amongst abortions:
Prov 6:16 These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
20 My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you roam, they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
David Clarkson on partaking in the sins of others:
