A26965:729
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.
XXIII. Shortly after, when such thoughts returned, and many thought it meet to join in the public Assemblies, the Oxford Oath and Act of Confinement was put in execution, and drove them all away: For the reasons aforesaid had satisfied them not to desert the souls in all Cities, Corporations and places where they had Preached; and so they were fain to hide themselves to avoid six months imprisonment in the common Gaols (whither some of us were sent;) so that if they had come to the Parish-Churches, to Common-prayer or Sacraments, they had exposed themselves to multitudes of witnesses, and so to certain imprisonment: Except in some odd corners of the Country where they were strangers (about five miles from Corporations or acquaintance) where their example would have wrought little on any in the Cities, or that had known them: So that the Oxford Act most effectually forbade them coming to Church, or holding Communion with any Parish-Churches within five miles of any such City, Corporation or Village where they had Preached since the Act of Oblivion: This they could not avoid.
XXIII. Shortly after, when such thoughts returned, and many thought it meet to joyn in the publick Assemblies, the Oxford Oath and Act of Confinement was put in execution, and drove them all away: For the reasons aforesaid had satisfied them not to desert the souls in all Cities, Corporations and places where they had Preached; and so they were fain to hide themselves to avoid six months imprisonment in the common Gaols (whither some of us were sent;) so that if they had come to the Parish-Churches, to Common-prayer or Sacraments, they had exposed themselves to multitudes of witnesses, and so to certain imprisonment: Except in some odd corners of the Country where they were strangers (about five miles from Corporations or acquaintance) where their example would have wrought little on any in the Cities, or that had known them: So that the Oxford Act most effectually forbad them coming to Church, or holding Communion with any Parish-Churches within five miles of any such City, Corporation or Village where they had Preached since the Act of Oblivion: This they could not avoid.