A26965:728
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.
XXII. A little after the Plague and Fire, some Nonconformable Ministers about London, met, to consider whether our actual forbearance to join with the Parish Churches in the Sacrament, might not tend to deceive men and make them believe that we were for separation from them, and took their Communion to be unlawful: And upon the Reasons given in, they agreed that such Communion was lawful and meet, when it would not do more harm than good: But because at that time a storm was coming on men, from the Act against Conventicles, and their judgment was against ruining those that in this were not of their minds (on the reasons aforesaid) and being ⟨p. 241⟩credibly informed that their communicating at such an unseasonable time would not only persuade men that force compelled them, but also draw them to ruin others that durst not imitate them, they resolved to delay for a fitter opportunity, because God will have mercy and not sacrifice; and our Liberty is not always our Duty, nor must be used to other mens destruction. Thus violence crosseth the Authors ends.
XXII. A little after the Plague and Fire, some Nonconformable Ministers about London, met, to consider whether our actuall forbearance to joyn with the Parish Churches in the Sacrament, might not tend to deceive men and make them believe that we were for separation from them, and took their Communion to be unlawful: And upon the Reasons given in, they agreed that such Communion was lawful and meet, when it would not do more harm than good: But because at that time a storm was coming on men, from the Act against Conventicles, and their judgment was against ruining those that in this were not of their minds (on the reasons aforesaid) and being ⟨p. 241⟩credibly informed that their communicating at such an unseasonable time would not only perswade men that force compelled them, but also draw them to ruine others that durst not imitate them, they resolved to delay for a fitter opportunity, because God will have mercy and not sacrifice; and our Liberty is not alwaies our Duty, nor must be used to other mens destruction. Thus violence crosseth the Authors ends.