A26965:679
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.
VIII. It is agreed on both sides, that if we might go on this supposition, that our Rulers can require nothing that is unjust or impious, or against the Law or Common good or their own interest, and therefore that no exposition is to be put on their ⟨p. 223⟩Laws or Impositions which is of any such importance, by this rule any oath or Covenant or promise in the world which Governors shall impose upon us, may be taken: For we must put a good sense upon them all: And the sense is the Oath or Covenant.
VIII. It is agreed on both sides, that if we might go on this supposition, that our Rulers can require nothing that is unjust or impious, or against the Law or Common good or their own interest, and therefore that no exposition is to be put on their ⟨p. 223⟩Laws or Impositions which is of any such importance, by this rule any oath or Covenant or promise in the world which Governours shall impose upon us, may be taken: For we must put a good sense upon them all: And the sense is the Oath or Covenant.
IX. It is commonly agreed that a man may not deliberately tell one lie to save his life, or his Ministerial liberty: And that if any one only of all the things imposed on us be a sin, it is the duty of all the Ministers of England rather to suffer any thing, or to dye than to Commit it. And that if it be one mans duty to be silent in such a case, it would be the duty of all the Ministers in the Land, if the things be sin.
X. And all are agreed that to silence all the Ministers of the Nation, is a thing that God hath not given any man authority to do, because of the necessity of their Ministry; and consequently not to silence any necessary Ministry at all.