A26965:176
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.
XXII. 20. If such shall send agents and emissaries into the Dominions of Christians Princes or States, to draw the Subjects to that Schism, and make them believe that Princes are by right the Subjects of the Pope, and that men shall be damned if they will not take him for the Bishop or Vice-christ of all the World and keep up a rich and numerous Clergy in Christian Kingdoms for this use, and make Decrees to exterminate or burn Christians, and to depose temporal Lords that will not obey them and execute their laws, This is to maintain and prosecute a Schism against Religious and Civill peace, by open hostility to Princes and People, and to mankind.
XXII. 20. If such shall send agents and emissaries into the Dominions of Christians Princes or States, to draw the Subjects to that Schisme, and make them believe that Princes are by right the Subjects of the Pope, and that men shall be damned if they will not take him for the Bishop or Vice-christ of all the World and keep up a rich and numerous Clergie in Christian Kingdomes for this use, and make Decrees to exterminate or burn Christians, and to depose temporal Lords that will not obey them and execute their lawes, This is to maintain and prosecute a Schisme against Religious and Civill peace, by open hostility to Princes and People, and to mankind.
XXIII. 21. If, because the Roman Emperors and Clergy settled five Patriarchs in the Roman Empire, of which the Roman Bishop was the first, and by Councils called General of that Empire, did make Church Laws to bind the ⟨p. 44⟩Subjects, any therefore will teach that these Patriarchs, (and the Pope as Principi•m unitatis) must be Rulers in the dominions of other Princes, and that such Councils must govern them by their Decrees and that the Universal Church must be united in any one mortal head, whether Personal or Collective (such as General Councils,) and so would bring Christian Princes and people under the Laws and Government of foreigners, and brand those as Schismatics that will not fall in with such an Universal Church Policy, This were also a very heinous sort of Schism. For the Universal Church never did, nor will be united on such terms; And therefore to make such terms of its unity, is to make an Engine to divide it, and tear it all into pieces.