A26965:216
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.
yea, the Papacy was in, in the ninth and tenth Ages, even Baronius, Genebrard, and the greatest flatterers of the Pope lament; and this for want of able, faithful Pastors and Teachers among them.
2. No man hath his power to destruction, but to edification. The bonum Publicum is the end of Government: Therefore it is not Schism in Subjects, not to cast their souls on notorious peril of damnation, in obedience to any mortal man.
3. Every man, (especially experienced Christians) ⟨p. 58⟩have more sense and knowledge of what is profitable and congruous to them, than standers by have, how learned soever: As ignorance maketh a few, short, plain, oft repeated words, in a familiar style, more profitable to low-bred persons, than an accurate learned Discourse would be; so mens several tempers and vices maketh that matter and manner of Preaching profitable to them, which to others seemeth otherwise: And as a nice Lady must not tie her family of labouring persons, to the matter and measure of her diet, nor revile them as gluttons or fools if they like it not; no more must learned men confine plain people to wordy Orations, (whether Learned or Pedantic) and say, This is best for them: Much less must they silence causelessly such Teachers as truly profit them, or tie them to Homilies or Liturgies only, and say, Here is as much as is necessary to salvation: Nor is it any Schism in the people, if they refuse to be so confined by them, and denied such helps to their salvation as God hath sent them, and made their due.
3. Every man, (especially experienced Christians) ⟨p. 58⟩