A26911:507
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 32
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.
III. It depriveth the King of his due security of his Subjects Loyalty, and of his Peace and Life. I much fear lest relaxing and stretching the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy but as much as you relax and stretch the words of the Subscription, Declaration, Liturgy, &c. may untie the Consciences of Rebels and King-killers so far, as to make way for, and consist with Rebellion, and killing the King.
III. It depriveth the King of his due security of his Subjects Loyalty, and of his Peace and Life. I much fear lest relaxing and stretching the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy but as much as you relax and stretch the words of the Subscription, Declaration, Liturgie, &c. may untie the Consciences of Rebels and King-killers so far, as to make way for, and consist with Rebellion, and killing the King.
IV. It seemeth to me most dangerously to expose the Lives of all the Subjects of the Kingdom, to the will of their Enemies, and to be a Virtual Murdering of many, or any (if not all) Persons ⟨p. 132⟩that have Enemies: For while two false Swearers may take away a Mans Life, if Men are taught to stretch Oaths and Equivocate, it will embolden the Consciences of Men so far, as that few Mens Lives shall have any security, but be at the mercy of any Rogues. It is a wonder of God's Merciful Providence, that false Swearers murder no more than they do: But such a Laxity would make our Case far more dangerous.
IV. It seemeth to me most dangerously to expose the Lives of all the Subjects of the Kingdom, to the will of their Enemies, and to be a Vertual Murdering of many, or any (if not all) Persons ⟨p. 132⟩that have Enemies: For while two false Swearers may take away a Mans Life, if Men are taught to stretch Oaths and Equivocate, it will embolden the Consciences of Men so far, as that few Mens Lives shall have any security, but be at the mercy of any Rogues. It is a wonder of God's Merciful Providence, that false Swearers murder no more than they do: But such a Laxity would make our Case far more dangerous.