A26924:500
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
Chapter 37: Point XXXIV. Of renouncing all Obligations from the Covenant, as on me or any other, to…
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.
L. This is now ceased at the end of twenty years; what need you mention this?
L. THis is now ceased at the end of twenty years; what need you mention this?
M. 1. I thought you had desired to know why we conformed not for the twenty years past. 2. I suppose that the like is still imposed on others, in the Corporation Act, the Vestry Act, the ⟨p. 126⟩Militia Act, and the Marrow of it still imposed on us in the Oxford Oath.
L. And what have you against it?
M. First I'll tell you what we have not against it, because we are commonly here falsely accused. 1. It is none of our Controversy whether this Oath or Covenant was unlawfully made and imposed both on the people and the King; we deny none of this. 2. It is none of our Controversy, whether there be not some part of the Matter of it that is unlawful: We deny not that. 3. It is none of our Controversy, whether it was not unlawfully taken: We justify not that as to our selves, tho' we are not judges of the sin of King and Lords, and others whom we have no Calling to condemn. 4. It is none of our Controversy, whether this, or any other Covenant or Vow do bind us to Rebellion, Sedition, or any unlawful Act; we renounce all such Obligation. 5. Yea, we hold that neither this, nor any other Vows of our own, can prevent any Obligation that the King hath Authority to impose upon us, in things great or small; else men might disable Magistrates to rule them, and exempt themselves from Obedience by Vowing before hand not to obey. 6. I add for my self, that I hold my self bound by this Covenant to nothing, which I had not been bound to if I had never taken it. For I never thought that by Vows we may make new Religions or Laws to our selves, but only bind our selves to that which God doth make our Duty.