A26924:734
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.
And now what mean you by saying that every Man must not be left to choose what Religion he list? 1. Every Man is a rational voluntary Agent, and not a Stone or Brute. 2. Every bad Man is left undetermined by efficiency of God or Man in all the evil that he doth. 3. Every one in the World is left by God and Man to choose Salvation or Damnation in the means, and to speed as he chooseth. 4. No Man is left Lawless to choose what he will without the Obligation of a perfect Divine Law.
And now what mean you by saying that every Man must not be left to chuse what Religion he list? 1. Every Man is a rational voluntary Agent, and not a Stone or Brute. 2. Every bad Man is left undetermined by efficiency of God or Man in all the evil that he doth. 3. Every one in the World is left by God and Man to chuse Salvation or Damnation in the means, and to speed as he chuseth. 4. No Man is left Lawless to chuse what he will without the Obligation of a perfect Divine Law.
L. But Men that believe not a God, and a Life to come, must be moved by temporal punishment which they can feel. Let them stay till death, and they will deride Religion, and live in wickedness.
M. You are too confused while you talk against confusion. 1. Do you think Men that believe not a God and a Life to come are fit for Church Communion, and may be forced to it? No nor any that do not desire Christ, Grace and Glory before all the Baits of sin. 2. Did you think I had pleaded that Men may without punishment do what they list, and live in wickedness? It's one thing to restrain them from sin, and another to constrain them to sin under the name of Religion. 3. Nor did I speak against constraining Atheists and Infidels and Malignant Enemies to hear the Gospel. 4. But your force cannot constrain them to believe. And 5. You ought not constrain them to Lie and say they believe. 6. And you ought not profanely to Lie in Christ's Name, by telling an unwilling Communicant that all his sins are pardoned, and that you Seal it to him. Do as much good by force as you can, but do no mischief.