A26965:181
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.
XXVII. 25. It may be Schismatical to cast men out of the Church for that which yet may be Schismatical in the person so ejected: If he depart from the Church though Schismatically only in some accident, circumstance, or some one act or thing of no necessity to communion or salvation; we think he may not be excommunicated, e. g. for not paying Fees at the Chancellors Court, or such like. For as God departeth not from sinners first, or further than they depart from him; so we humbly conceive the Church should imitate him; remembering how Christ that came not to destroy mens lives, but to save them, rebuked the Sons of Thunder that would have had him destroy those that refused to receive him, telling them, That they knew not what manner of spirit they were of.
XXVII. 25. It may be Schismatical to cast men out of the Church for that which yet may be Schismatical in the person so ejected: If he depart from the Church though Schismatically only in some accident, circumstance, or some one act or thing of no necessity to communion or salvation; we think he may not be excommunicated, e. g. for not paying Fees at the Chancellours Court, or such like. For as God departeth not from sinners first, or further than they depart from him; so we humbly conceive the Church should imitate him; remembring how Christ that came not to destroy mens lives, but to save them, rebuked the Sons of Thunder that would have had him destroy those that refused to receive him, telling them, That they knew not what manner of spirit they were of.
On the other side, it may be Schism to separate from a Church that hath some Schismatical Principles, Practices, and Persons, if those be not such or so great as to necessitate our departure from them: For alas, it is too few Churches that are so happy as to have nothing, and do nothing which is Schismatical.