A27006:2241
Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…
Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his life and times faithfully published from his own original manuscript by Matthew Sylvester.Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his life and times faithfully publish'd from his own original manuscript by Matthew Sylvester.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst, 1696
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.
2. Whether indeed the Imposers Ends were ill, is a Controversy fit to be touched by it self. They thought such a Change of Church-Government was a good End: And for doing it against Law they put not that into the Swearers part, in this Clause; and pro•essed the contrary themselves. But if they did themselves purpose to do that against to Law, which others swear to do [in their Places and Calling] that is, according to Law, are those others therefore not obliged to do what they vowed to do according to Law, because the Imposers intended to do their part against Law?
2. Whether indeed the Imposers Ends were ill, is a Controversie fit to be touched by it self. They thought such a Change of Church-Government was a good End: And for doing it against Law they put not that into the Swearers part, in this Clause; and pro•essed the contrary themselves. But if they did themselves purpose to do that against to Law, which others swear to do [in their Places and Calling] that is, according to Law, are those others therefore not obliged to do what they vowed to do according to Law, because the Imposers intended to do their part against Law?
3. I suppose all the King's Party who took the Oath at their Composition, had no ill end in it, and are they not then to interpret it by their own Ends, as it is their Personal Vow?
4. If we reach Men that the bad Ends of the Imposers do disoblige Men from performing Vows materially good, take heed left it follow that it will disoblige them much more from obeying Commands and Laws materially good: And then every Subject will take himself to be disobliged, who is but confident that Persecution, Oppression, &c. were his Rulers Ends. What if a Man for evil Ends command me to obey the King, or to worship God, or to give to the Poor: Or make me swear to do all this; Doth not my Vow oblige me, because he had evil Ends that drove me to it? Nay, if I had my self vowed to do all these for some evil end, though it is certain that I must not do it to that end, yet whether the change of my End, does disoblige me also from my Vow, as to the Matter, is a difficult question, which I think Casuists commonly resolve in the Negative. But if any Man did mistake their Design, and had good Ends himself, while theirs were bad, yea, and the End; commanded him were good, the Case is much plainer.