A27014:79
Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…
Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated, against the reasonings of a confident questionist, in a book called Toleration not abused; with counsel to the nonconformists, and petition to the pious conformists / by one that is consecrated to the sacred ministry, and is resolved not to be a deserter of it ...Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated, against the reasonings of a confident questionist, in a book called Toleration not abused; with counsil to the nonconformists, and petition to the pious conformists / by one that is consecrated to the sacred ministry, and is resolved not to be a deserter of it ...
London : s.n., 1672
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. We confess that we do not actually obey the Civil unquestionable Power in every particle about Gods Worship which hath been commanded us; I need not tell you why. No more did the Christians for three hundred years after Christ; nor the Orthodox Bishops in the days of Constantius, ⟨p. 40⟩Valens, &c. nor the Protestants now in France, nor the Calvinists now in Sweden, Denmark Saxony; nor the Lutherans under Calvinist Governors, &c. We compare not our Rulers to any of these, in any other respect, but only as Rulers; but if you your selves are resolved to say and subscribe, and swear, and do whatever lawful Rulers bid you, its possible that before you dye, you may show that indeed you are not of our minds.
2. We confess that we do not actually obey the Civil unquestionable Power in every particle about Gods Worship which hath been commanded us; I need not tell you why. No more did the Christians for three hundred years after Christ; nor the Orthodox Bishops in the dayes of Constantius, ⟨p. 40⟩Valens, &c. nor the Protestants now in France, nor the Calvinists now in Sweden, Denmark Saxonie; nor the Lutherans under Calvinist Governours, &c. We compare not our Rulers to any of these, in any other respect, but only as Rulers; but if you your selves are resolved to say and subscribe, and swear, and do whatever lawful Rulers bid you, its possible that before you dye, you may shew that indeed you are not of our minds.
3. But who ever took every act of disobedience in a Circumstance, in a Family or Kingdom, to be a Schism from that Family or Kingdom? Do you rule by such a Law of Works or Innocency, which cuts off men for every disobedience, and censureth him that obeyeth not perfectly in all things?