A26965:219
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.
4. Order is an excellent means of edification, and of preserving Truth, Charity and Peace: But it is but a Means to the Ends of the things Ordered, and the public good: Therefore if Order should be made the advantage of Heresy, Church-Tyranny or Iniquity, and be turned against the good of Church and Souls, (as it is in the Policy of the Roman Church, and in well ordered Armies of Rebels, or such as have unlawful wars) this would make it no Schism or sin •o break such order. These notices interposed, we add, 4. That it hath been the Judgement of the ⟨p. 59⟩most honoured Ages of the Church, that it is no Schism in the forementioned Cases, to cleave to the faithful Pastors that were duly ordained and consented to, and to refuse subjection to such as lawful Princes have imposed in their steads.
4. Order is an excellent means of edification, and of preserving Truth, Charity and Peace: But it is but a Means to the Ends of the things Ordered, and the publick good: Therefore if Order should be made the advantage of Heresie, Church-Tyranny or Iniquity, and be turned against the good of Church and Souls, (as it is in the Policy of the Roman Church, and in well ordered Armies of Rebels, or such as have unlawful wars) this would make it no Schism or sin •o break such order. These notices interposed, we add, 4. That it hath been the Judgement of the ⟨p. 59⟩most honoured Ages of the Church, that it is no Schism in the forementioned Cases, to cleave to the faithful Pastors that were duly ordained and consented to, and to refuse subjection to such as lawful Princes have imposed in their steads.
1. That even in the Jewish State the Kings had not the Election of all the Priests and Levites (much less the Prophets) is before proved; though they had the Government of them according to God's Laws.