A26982:143
Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called…
Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called The second part of the mischiefs of separation, written by an unnamed author with a preface to Mr. Cantianus D. Minimis, in answer to his letter which extorted this publication.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
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.
12. I did believe that neither the King nor the Parliament as such are ⟨p. 16⟩questionable by Law, having no superior Judicature to try them. And that the person of the King is inviolable, there being no Power or Law to punish him, and therefore the Law saith, The King can do no wrong, but it layeth all the blame on the Subjects, who are responsible for their actions.
13. I did and do believe that as every Man hath a power of private Self-defence against a Murderer or Thief, so every Kingdom hath a power or right of public Self-defence, against Foreign or Home bred Enemies.
13. I did and do believe that as every Man hath a power of private Self-defence against a Murderer or Thief, so every Kingdom hath a power or right of publick Self-defence, against Forreign or Home bred Enemies.
14. But I believe that this power belongeth not to a wronged or persecuted party, but only to the Body of the Kingdom: Because their good is not the bonum publicum, and a Civil War would do more hurt than their death or ruin. Nor may a Kingdom defend all its Rights, or revenge all its injuries by a Civil War, which will do more hurt than their wrongs: But where the destruction of the Kingdom is apparently endeavoured, or the change of their Constitution, or a hurt greater than a Civil War, a Self-defence is lawful and necessary.