A26965:116
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacify such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacifie such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benj. Alsop, 1679
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.
XII. 7. Solomon's putting out Abiathar, and putting in Zadok, is not contrary to any of this: For (supposing the words 1 King. 2, 35. to be not only a history of the bare matter of fact, but a justification of it de jure.) 1. It poseth learned men to resolve how Zadok and Abiathar are oft said to be both High Priests before, and Zadok still put before Abiathar. 2. It is certain that Zadok had the right both of Inheritance and especial Promise, Numb. 25. 11, 12, 13. 1 Chron. 6. 3, 4, &c. And what Solomon did was that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled. How the possession came into the hands of the line of Ithamar, Expositors cannot find: It is like it was by occasion of the confusions of their oft Captivity and Anarchy in the interspace of the Judges. 3. Even the Priests were the King's subjects, and might be punished for their crimes, so it were according to God's Laws. And if Abiathar forfeited his life, he forfeited his Office.
XIII. 8. The Priesthood then depended not on the institution or will of the King or People: He might not put out a lawful Priest, that had not forfeited his Life or Office: He might not have put any one in his place that had not right from God, or that was unqualified: He might not have forbid the Priests the work appointed them by God: But yet if he had injuriously deposed one Abiathar, and put in a Zadok, the loss had been little to the Church: But if he had deposed so great a number of the Priests and Levites, as that a great part of God's commanded work must needs thereby have been lest undone, and Religion so far destroyed, or had as Jeroboam, put of the basest of the people (or uncapable persons) into the Priesthood, the loss had been greater, and the thing unwarrantable, and such as he had not power from God to do.