A26965:210
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.
XLI. 9 No Prince or Prelate hath power from Christ to set over, or impose upon any Church or Christian people, any person as a Pastor who through Ignorance, Heresy, Malignant opposition to piety, or utter defect of Ministerial ability, is uncapable of the Office or unfit to be trusted by the people with the Pastoral care and conduct of their souls. Nor is it Schism in them to refuse to commit their souls to such, nor to choose and use better; when they may do it, without greater hurt to others then their gain will compensate.
XLI. 9 No Prince or Prelate hath power from Christ to set over, or impose upon any Church or Christian people, any person as a Pastor who through Ignorance, Heresie, Malignant opposition to piety, or utter defect of Ministerial ability, is uncapable of the Office or unfit to be trusted by the people with the Pastoral care and conduct of their soules. Nor is it Schism in them to refuse to commit their soules to such, nor to chuse and use better; when they may do it, without greater hurt to others then their gain will compensate.
XLII. 10. Princes or other Magistrates are not appointed by God to be the ordinary Electors and Imposers of Pastors on all the Churches; and the people bound to consent to whomsoever they elect. But Christ hath given the Bishops the power of free ordaining, and the people the power of free consenting, and made Magistrates the Governors of them that have this power. Even as he hath not given power to Princes ⟨p. 55⟩to choose Wives or Husbands, Servants or Masters, Tutors or Pupils, Physicians or Patients, for all their Subjects, but hath antecedently given such Subjects power to choose for themselves, and to Princes to be civil Rulers of such as have this Choice, by which Governing Power they may regulate their Choice in subordination to Christs Universal Laws, and may punish them for gross misdoing: Therefore it is no Schism for Pastors to ordain, or People to choose the Overseers of their souls, without or against a Magistrates will or command as such (submitting to his Government.)