A26924:891
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. It's well they made their Chancellors, Officials, Commissaries, &c. the Church first: I confess I am not unapt to believe that they take it for worse than Adultery, Murder, Persecution or Perjury, to cross their wills and worldly interest. And if calling themselves (the Church) would make any needy or ambitious pack of men, the masters of all mens consciences, and persons, and estates, I should not wonder if more than Papists and Prelatists strove to be called, The Church.
M. It's well they made their Chancellours, Officials, Commissaries, &c. the Church first: I confess I am not unapt to believe that they take it for worse than Adultery, Murder, Persecution or Perjury, to cross their wills and worldly interest. And if calling themselves (the Church) would make any needy or ambitious pack of men, the masters of all mens consciences, and persons, and estates, I should not wonder if more than Papists and Prelatists strove to be called, The Church.
L. Obj. XII. But they say all antiquity condemneth Schism, and you are they that will not suffer the Church to have Unity and Peace, in disobeying the Bishops; and Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft, and disobedience as Idolatry.
L. Obj. XII. But they say all antiquity condemneth Schism, and you are they that will not suffer the Church to have Vnity and Peace, in disobeying the Bishops; and Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft, and disobedience as Idolatery.
M. The sense of this last Clause is [God calls it like Witchcraft and Idolatry to Obey Him, and Rebel against His Laws: Ergo it is like Witchcraft and Idolatry not to Rebel and Disobey Him if Bishops command us.] Prove the consequence. 2. Do not Papists call them Schismatics and Heretics too, as long and as loud as they call us so? And will this prove them such indeed? We appeal to the common reason of mankind, whether they that make a multitude of sinful Canons, to persecute Christs Church and Servants, and add to his Laws an hundred forty one of their own with inhumane penalties, casting out those that obey them not, be not rather Schismatics than they that say, We will hold Concord in all that Christ commandeth or his Apostles practised, but we dare not obey you against God. Read my Search for the Schismatics, and The English Schismatic Detected and Confuted, and then blame the Schismatic and spare not.