A26911:366
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.
You say, 1. [We must in expounding Laws regard the meaning of our Governors.]
You say, 1. [We must in expounding Laws regard the meaning of our Governours.]
Ans. True: But is it their meaning de genere, or de specie, or individuo? Our Governor's meaning is not to approve Perjury. But suppose yet they had commanded me to swear that no man is bound by the Oath of Supremacy; is it no Perjury so to swear. Then we might swear any thing commanded while the Commander saith, He is not for Perjury. If Rulers command men to marry their own Sisters, and yet say, That they abhor Incest, may one justify this because they are against Incest? If ⟨p. 102⟩Rebels rise in Arms against their Rulers, but yet renounce Rebellion, how are they to be expounded?
Ans. True: But is it their meaning de genere, or de specie, or individuo? Our Governour's meaning is not to approve Perjury. But suppose yet they had commanded me to swear that no man is bound by the Oath of Supremacy; is it no Perjury so to swear. Then we might swear any thing commanded while the Commander saith, He is not for Perjury. If Rulers command men to marry their own Sisters, and yet say, That they abhor Incest, may one justifie this because they are against Incest? If ⟨p. 102⟩Rebels rise in Arms against their Rulers, but yet renounce Rebellion, how are they to be expounded?
But you say, [If there be any thing in the Government contrary to the Word of God, The Laws, Canons, Liturgy, Offices of Judges and Ministers do bind all men against it, as null and void, though not abolished by Parliament.]