A26911:363
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter of their nonconformity against Mr. J. Cheney's answer called The conforming nonconformist, and The nonconforming conformist : to which is added the second part in answer to Mr. Cheney's Five undertakings / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benjamin Alsop, 1680
A DEFENCE OF THE NON-CONFORMIST'S Plea for Peace, AGAINST Mr. J. CH… › Chapter 28
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. But they partly knew what the English Prelacy was, by long Experience; and they swore not for Presbytery or Independency, nor against all Episcopacy.
2. But they partly knew what the English Prelacy was, by long Experience; and they swore not for Presbytery or Independancy, nor against all Episcopacy.
3. But if you think that they do so in these Times, you and I should lament it: For God will not hold them Guiltless, whether they be Pastors and Churches, or Cities and Corporations, that take his Name by Perjury in vain: It's better call them to Repentance, than justify them in it. To contract the guilt of the Perjury of many thousands is an expeditious way to Misery, and doth a great deal in a little time.
3. But if you think that they do so in these Times, you and I should lament it: For God will not hold them Guiltless, whether they be Pastors and Churches, or Cities and Corporations, that take his Name by Perjury in vain: It's better call them to Repentance, than justifie them in it. To contract the guilt of the Perjury of many thousands is an expeditious way to Misery, and doth a great deal in a little time.
§ 2. Having thus proved that which I denied not, you proceed to add Nineteen Propositions about the Case in question, in all which it is not easy to be sure which side you conclude for: You grant most of my premises, which make against ⟨p. 101⟩Perjury. You confess, that If any one Person be bound by that Oath to endeavour an alteration of Church Government, no Man may with a safe Conscience subscribe this. And, If there be evil in the Government of the Church, which may well and conveniently be reformed, you do not see but that all that have taken that Oath, stand bound in their Places and Calling to endeavour it: There can be no just Reformation without some Alteration. A great deal more than this you grant, how Rulers are bound to yield in things confessed indifferent, which others account Sin, were it but to heal our Breaches: And what a Sin it is to cast out of the Church multitudes of holy Conscientious Men for a small and tolerable Error, when all have some, &c. But yet instead of a Conclusion, if you are intelligible, you induce Men to subscribe, though that which they fear, be (not accusing any) lest they should be guilty of many hundred thousand Perjuries.