A26965:544
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.
2. Not every Parishioner (yea in our experience not one of many) hath a full trust in God's Mercy, and a quiet Conscience, without both which they are not to come.
3. Many good Christians have so great a sense of their sins and unworthiness, that they dare not communicate till they are fitter: And some are so timorous and melancholy, that hearing the Liturgy threaten men to be given up to the Devil, and eat and drink their own damnation, if they eat and drink unworthily, it would drive them by fear into distraction should they take it, till they have better thoughts of their title and preparations; so that their dilemma is sad, when they are either to go to Bedlam, or to the common Gaol.
3. Many good Christians have so great a sense of their sins and unworthiness, that they dare not communicate till they are fitter: And some are so timerous and melancholy, that hearing the Liturgy threaten men to be given up to the Devil, and eat and drink their own damnation, if they eat and drink unworthily, it would drive them by fear into distraction should they take it, till they have better thoughts of their title and preparations; so that their dilemma is sad, when they are either to go to Bedlam, or to the common Gaol.
4. To say that all these doubting and timorous people should be otherwise minded, and that this is their error, is true, but as impertinent, as it is to tell all men that they should never sin or all ignorant carnal ungodly men that they should be wise and godly: But to conclude that men should receive the sacrament, because they ought to be prepared, though they are not prepared, is somewhat like telling the sick that they should work and eat, as they ought to have done if by intemperance they had not disabled themselves.