A26924:525
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 38: Point XXXV. Of the Oxford Oath, that we will never endeavour any alteration of Church G…
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. I have read Dr. Stillingfleet's Irenicon, and many such Books, in which I see how great a number of our greatest Divines, as well Arch-bishop Cranmer, took the Form of Church Government to be alterable, and not fixed by Christ: And if the Doctor have changed his judgment, that changeth not the Authority of those that he citeth. 2. I have in my full Treatise of Episcopacy told you why I cannot but wish more than one thing in our Ecclesiastical Courts and Government changed. 3. I take it for a matter that deserveth consideration, whether it be no change of the State Government, to make all the Church Government unchangeable, and so to disable the King to change it: And how to reconcile the two parts of the Oath? And whether if the whole Church Government as fixed, must thus be Sworn to as Monarchy is, it alter not our Constitution? Or at least be not a perilous Innovation. ⟨p. 132⟩4. If the King and Parliament should command Men to endeavour an Alteration, e. g. of Lay-Mens Power of the Keys, or the greatness of Dioceses, I am afraid of being sworn beforehand to disobey them.
M. I have read Dr. Stillingfleet's Irenicon, and many such Books, in which I see how great a number of our greatest Divines, as well Arch-bishop Cranmer, took the Form of Church Government to be alterable, and not fixed by Christ: And if the Doctor have changed his judgment, that changeth not the Authority of those that he citeth. 2. I have in my full Treatise of Episcopacy told you why I cannot but wish more than one thing in our Ecclesiastical Courts and Government changed. 3. I take it for a matter that deserveth consideration, whether it be no change of the State Government, to make all the Church Government unchangeable, and so to disable the King to change it: And how to reconcile the two parts of the Oath? And whether if the whole Church Government as fixed, must thus be Sworn to as Monarchy is, it alter not our Constitution? Or at least be not a perillous Innovation. ⟨p. 132⟩4. If the King and Parliament should command Men to endeavour an Alteration, e. g. of Lay-Mens Power of the Keys, or the greatness of Dioceses, I am afraid of being sworn beforehand to disobey them.