A26965:676
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.
V. It is agreed by Protestants, that all Oaths, Covenants and Laws, must be understood according to the plain and usual sense of the words, unless our Rulers otherwise expound them, and tell us that they mean somewhat else.
VI. It is agreed that though Judges must determine of the sense of Laws, so far as to decide the cases that are brought to them; yet none can make an universal obligatory exposition of a Law, to bind the subjects conscience in understanding it▪ but the Sovereign and Lawgivers themselves: Else a Judge might become a Legislator and frustrate the Kings Laws by his expositions. If Judgements be the expositors and preservers of Common unwritten Laws which are Customs, it is because it is the Law-makers or Sovereigns will that it shall be so.
VI. It is agreed that though Judges must determine of the sence of Laws, so far as to decide the cases that are brought to them; yet none can make an universal obligatory exposition of a Law, to bind the subjects conscience in understanding it▪ but the Sovereign and Lawgivers themselves: Else a Judge might become a Legislator and frustrate the Kings Laws by his expositions. If Judgements be the expositors and preservers of Common unwritten Laws which are Customs, it is because it is the Law-makers or Sovereigns will that it shall be so.
VII. It is agreed by all Protestants that stretching the words of Laws, Oaths and Promises to meanings quite differing from the Common use of the words, without the direction of the Law-makers to to do, and taking such Oaths or Covenants with equivocations and mental reservations on pretence of Charitable interpretation, for our own ends and interests, is more suitable to Atheists than sincere Christians, and would overthrow humane trust, and the end of Laws and Princes safety, as well as other sorts of perjury. For instance, if one take the subscribed