A26965:212
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.
XLIII. 11. When faithful Pastors truly ordained and elected, or consented to, are in possession, if a lawful Magistrate cast them out (not only of the Temples and Tithes, but also of their Pastoral Relation and Oversight, and put others in their places of untried and suspected parts and fidelity; 1. The Princes imposition maketh not such the true Pastors of that Church before and without the Peoples consent: 2. Nor will it always bind the People to consent, and to forsake their former Pastors, nor prove them Schismatics because they do it not.
XLIII. 11. When faithful Pastors truly ordained and elected, or consented to, are in possession, if a lawful Magistrate cast them out (not only of the Temples and Tithes, but also of their Pastoral Relation and Oversight, and put others in their places of untried and suspected parts and fidelity; 1. The Princes imposition maketh not such the true Pastors of that Church before and without the Peoples consent: 2. Nor will it alwaies bind the People to consent, and to forsake their former Pastors, nor prove them Schismaticks because they do it not.
For 1. God in Nature and Scripture hath given them that consenting power antecedent to the Princes determination, which none can take from them. As he hath in nature given men the Choice (or Consent at least) with what Physician they will trust their lives: God hath not put all sick mens lives so far in the Princes power as to bind them to trust and use whomsoever he shall choose: For men are nearest to themselves, and their lives are at their own wills in the first instance, ⟨p. 56⟩before they are at another's: And mens souls and everlasting happiness are preciouser to them than their lives, and it is first under God their own wills by which they shall live or die; though all their friends should do their best to make them willing of what is best.
For 1. God in Nature and Scripture hath given them that consenting power antecedent to the Princes determination, which none can take from them. As he hath in nature given men the Choice (or Consent at least) with what Physician they will trust their lives: God hath not put all sick mens lives so far in the Princes power as to bind them to trust and use whomsoever he shall chuse: For men are nearest to themselves, and their lives are at their own wills in the first instance,