A26965:890
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.
P. 55, 56▪ The question, Whether this or that Oath be lawful? much differeth from this [Whether this or that Oath bind•] For though it be certain that we ought not to take the Oath, which we know that we ought not to keep; yet it may come to pass, and often doth, that we ought to perform that which we ought not to have taken Joshuas Covenant with the Gibeonites, is a most clean example of this.—An Oath may be said to be unlawful two ways; either as to the matter sworn, or as to the Act of swearing. An Oath unlawful as to the matter sworn, bindeth not at all. An Oath unlawful in respect to the Act of swearing, bindeth, unless otherwise hindered.
P. 55, 56▪ The question, Whether this or that Oath be lawful? much differeth from this [Whether this or that Oath bind•] For though it be certain that we ought not to take the Oath, which we know that we ought not to keep; yet it may come to pass, and often doth, that we ought to perform that which we ought not to have taken Joshuas Covenant with the Gibeonites, is a most clean example of this.—An Oath may be said to be unlawful two waies; either as to the matter sworn, or as to the Act of swearing. An Oath unlawful as to the matter sworn, bindeth not at all. An Oath unlawful in respect to the Act of swearing, bindeth, unless otherwaies hindered.
P. 74, 75. A thing lawful in it self may be unlawful by accident;—as by the error of the swearer, or the ill effect of the thing sworn. The third Case is, When one promiseth by an Oath to do somewhat perhaps lawful in it self, which yet he thinketh unlawful, or at least seareth lest it be not lawful: As if any one before these times, admitted to an Ecclesiastical Benefice, had promised to observe in Public Worship all the Rites commanded by the Ecclesiastical Laws, as the Surplice, the sign of the Cross at the sacred Font, kneeling in receiving the Sacrament, and such like, which yet by some light prejudice he thought were superstitious and Popish. The question is, What obligation there is in this case? I say, 1. Such an Oath cannot be taken during such error, without grievous sin. For he sinneth grievously that sinneth against his conscience, though erroneous. For when the Judgment of the Intellect is every ones nearest