A26965:141
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.
XXXII. Neither dwelling in the Parish, nor the Law of the Land, makes any Christian a member of that Parish Church, without or before his own consent: But proximity is part of his extrinsic aptitude and the law of man or command of his Prince may make it his duty to consent, and thereby to become a member when ⟨p. 32⟩greater Reasons mollify not that obligation.
XXXII. Neither dwelling in the Parish, nor the Law of the Land, makes any Christian a member of that Parish Church, without or before his own consent: But proximity is part of his extrinsick aptitude and the law of man or command of his Prince may make it his duty to consent, and thereby to become a member when ⟨p. 32⟩greater Reasons mollify not that obligation.
XXXIII. Parish Bounds and such other humane distributions for conveniency, may be altered by men; and they bind not against any of Christs own Laws and predeterminations; nor when any changes turn them against the good ends for which they are made; of which more afterward, when we speak of separation.
XXXIIII. And about these humane Church-Laws the general Case must be well considered, how far they are obligatory to conscience, and in what cases they cease to bind. Sayrus, Fragoso and other the most Learned and Moderate Casuists of the Papists, ordinarily conclude, that Humane Laws bind not, when they are not for the Common good. We had rather say, that when they are notoriously against the Laws of Christ, or against the Common good, or are made by usurpation without authority thereto, they bind not to formal obedience in that particular, (though sometime other reasons, especially the honour of our Rulers, may bind us to material obedience, when the matter is indifferent; and though still our subjection and loyalty must be maintained. But of this before, and more largely by one of us, Christian directory, Part. 4. Chap.