A26924:1046
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
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.
M. 1. Judge by what is said whether no Sin be imposed. 2. Obedience to God being more necessary than to man, all just Rulers should encourage a due fear of sin, and do nothing that tempts men from obeying God. ⟨p. 254⟩3. God himself doth not silence, eject, or condemn men for all disobedience, else none could be saved: All sin is disobedience to God. There is disobedience in small things as well as in great; and of ignorance and infirmity, as well as of malicious wilfulness: And what smaller matter can there be than Humane Forms and Ceremonies? and where is ignorance more excusable than in things so minute, and so uncertain and hard, that they must all be wiser than you and I that know them to be lawful? and what Unity will be in that Church and Kingdom, that will endure none but such as are wiser than you and I?
M. 1. Judge by what is said whether no Sin be imposed. 2. Obedience to God being more necessary than to man, all just Rulers should encourage a due fear of sin, and do nothing that tempts men from obeying God. ⟨p. 254⟩3. God himself doth not silence, eject, or condemn men for all disobedience, else none could be saved: All sin is disobedience to God. There is disobedience in small things as well as in great; and of ignorance and infirmity, as well as of malicious wilfulness: And what smaller matter can there be than Humane Forms and Ceremonies? and where is ignorance more excuseable than in things so minute, and so uncertain and hard, that they must all be wiser than you and I that know them to be lawful? and what Unity will be in that Church and Kingdom, that will endure none but such as are wiser than you and I?
L. 8. Your 8th. Article preventeth all the objections against Ministers power and liberty, while all are under Law responsible; But what if the Rulers be Bishops or men that distaste your desired discipline?