A26924:881
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. This is an argument a baculo ad angulum: A man is against the Cross in Baptism, or a Lay-Chancellor's excommunicating Men for a Ceremony, &c. ergo he is against the King, and for Rebellion. The other side say, that the Irish Principles and the Popish were the cause; and must we therefore conclude all Irish or Papists to be against the King? They were Papists that raised the Wars on both sides, in the aforesaid days of King William, K. Stephen, H. 1. and H. 3. and Ed. 2. and Rich. 2. and H. 6. and Rich. 3. and Ed. 4. &c. Doth it follow that all rapists are rebels? ⟨p. 217⟩2. But I have elsewhere fully proved that the Parliament when that War began, were of the Church of England, and Conformists; and it's strange that any should have the face to deny it, while so many are yet living that know them: Whitlocke tells us in his Memorials, that they voted, that every County should have a Bishop and his Presbytery: And were those then against Episcopacy? One would think that a County should be big enough to keep Episcopacy from dwindling to nothing; every Bishop of old had but one City: Many Counties have ten, or near twenty Towns that were then called Cities. But when Papists dare say that all are against Kings that are against the Pope, who is the ruler and deposer of Kings; it's no wonder if every Bishop, or Chancellor, or Official, &c. will say, If you be not for us you are against the King; since all are sworn against altering the Church-Government before that of the State. Mr. Martin that lost an arm in the Kings service in the War, lay in Gaol at Warwick, for preaching when silenced; and Mr. Francis Bampfield that was against the Parliament's War, lay seven years in Gaol for preaching as a Non-Conformist, and died in New-gate. Non-Conformists that have been, and are most for the King, do suffer as much as others. 3. Read my second Plea for Peace, in which I declare our political Principles; and tell us what you there dislike.
L. Obj. VII. But why do you refuse to renounce all the Obligation of the Covenant, if you are not disloyal?