5. And we may plead the nature of their cause, to move you to ⟨p. 5⟩compassionate your poor afflicted Brethren in their sufferings. It is, in your own account, but for refusing Conformity to things indifferent, or at the most, of no necessity to salvation. It is in their account for the sake of Christ, because they dare not consent to that which they judge to be an usurpation of his Kingly power, and an accusation of his Laws as insufficient, and because they dare not be guilty of addition to, or diminution of his Worship, or of worshipping him after any other Law, than that by which they must be judged, or such as is merely subordinate to that. Suppose they be mistaken in thinking the things to be so displeasing to God; yet it is commendable in them to be fearful of displeasing him, and careful to obey him; a disposition necessary to all that will be saved, and therefore to be loved and cherished in them by the Pastors of the Church; who should be very tender of putting them to suffering, or casting them out of the Church, because they dare not do that which they judge to be so great a sin against the Lord, deserving damnation to themselves. Should not the love of Christ command us to be tender of those that are so tender of his honour, and to take heed what we do to men for taking heed of sin, and being afraid to offend the Lord; and should not the special love of Christians, and the common love of men, command us, to be loath to drive men by penalties, upon that which they judge doth tend to their everlasting damnation, and which indeed doth tend to it, because they judge it so to do; For he that will do that which he thinks to be so great a sin as is before described, to please men, or to escape their punishment, no doubt deserveth the wrath of God, and should we not be loath to drive men upon sin and condemnation: though we were sure that their own infirmity is the occasion. If it be said, that by this Rule nothing shall be commanded, if men will but scruple it. We answer, Things in themselves necessary, or commanded by God, must be commanded by man, because scruples make them not unnecessary, and make not void the Laws of God, and it will be a sin even to the scrupulous to disobey: But things dispensable, and of themselves unnecessary, should not be rigorously urged upon him, to whom they would be a sin, and cause of condemnation.
5. And wee may plead the nature of their cause, to move you to ⟨p. 5⟩compassionate your poor afflicted Brethren in their sufferings. It is, in your own account, but for refusing Conformity to things indifferent, or at the most, of no necessity to salvation. It is in their account for the sake of Christ, because they dare not consent to that which they judge to be an usurpation of his Kingly power, and an accusation of his Laws as insufficient, and because they dare not bee guilty of addition to, or diminution of his Worship, or of worshipping him after any other Law, than that by which they must bee judged, or such as is meerly subordinate to that. Suppose they bee mistaken in thinking the things to bee so displeasing to God; yet it is commendable in them to bee fearful of displeasing him, and careful to obey him; a disposition necessary to all that will bee saved, and therefore to bee loved and cherished in them by the Pastors of the Church; who should bee very tender of putting them to suffering, or casting them out of the Church, because they dare not do that which they judge to bee so great a sin against the Lord, deserving damnation to themselves. Should not the love of Christ command us to bee tender of those that are so tender of his honour, and to take heed what wee do to men for taking heed of sin, and being afraid to offend the Lord; and should not the special love of Christians, and the common love of men, command us, to bee loath to drive men by penalties, upon that which they judge doth tend to their everlasting damnation, and which indeed doth tend to it, because they judge it so to do; For hee that will do that which hee thinks to bee so great a sin as is before described, to please men, or to escape their punishment, no doubt deserveth the wrath of God, and should wee not bee loath to drive men upon sin and condemnation: though wee were sure that their own infirmity is the occasion. If it bee said, that by this Rule nothing shall bee commanded, if men will but scruple it. Wee answer, Things in themselves necessary, or commanded by God, must bee commanded by man, because scruples make them not unnecessary, and make not void the Laws of God, and it will bee a sin even to the scrupulous to disobey: But things dispensible, and of themselves unnecessary, should not bee rigorously urged upon him, to whom they would bee a sin, and cause of condemnation.
