A26911:379
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.
But we must prove them unlawful: Come to me then in private, and let us debate the Case, and I will prove to you as much as I affirm. In the mean time, if it will go for any Proof with you, I crave your answer to these Arguments which some use, that doubt of the lawfulness which they dare not deny.
I. A Church-governing Office for the exercise of that power of the Church Keys by Lay-men, which Christ hath appropriated to the Clergy is sinful: But such is the Office of our Lay-Chancellors: Ergo, &c.
II. A species of Prelacy which is destructive of, or inconsistent with the form of particular Churches, and of Bishops and Presbyters, and the exercise of that Church-Discipline which Christ and his Spirit in the Apostles did institute is sinful. But (they fear) such is the English Diocesan species of Prelacy: Ergo, &c.
III. The Government which is to be the execution of the foresaid Canons, and Act of Uniformity, &c. for Expelling, Excommunicating, Silencing, Imprisoning, Ruining Non-conformists, you said before was unlawful—But—Ergo.