The judgment of non-conformists about the difference between grace and morality

If the Question be, Whether there be a God, a Christ, a Scripture, a Heaven, an Immortality of Souls, &c. Kings, and Pastors, and Councils may, and must judge that there is; but none of them may judge that there is not; if they do, it's worse than null: And in Practicals, if the Question be, Whether we may, or must pray for the hallowing of God's Name, the coming of his Kingdom, the doing of his Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven; or whether ⟨p. 32⟩we must love and worship God, and hear him, and meditate on his Word; and whether true Ministers of Christ may, or must Preach in season and out of season; and seek to instruct and save Mens Souls; whether we must honour our Parents, relieve the Poor, and save Mens lives, in danger, from Murderers, &c. They have Authority to judge affirmatively, but none at all to judge negatively; which if they do, it's worse than null.

So Kings and Pastors have power to judge that we may not take God's Name in vain, nor be perjured, nor profane his separated day, nor forsake the assembling of our selves for his Public Worship, nor Murder, nor commit Adultery, nor steal, nor lye, or bear false witness, nor persecute, nor hurt any man injuriously; but they have no power to judge that we may do any one of these: and if they so judge, or command, it is a nulli[…]y to the Subject, and worse to themselves. God hath made no men absolute Judges, but given them a Regulating and Limiting Law to Judge by.

So Kings and Pastors have power to judge that we may not take God's Name in vain, nor be perjured, nor prophane his separated day, nor forsake the assembling of our selves for his Publick Worship, nor Murder, nor commit Adultery, nor steal, nor lye, or bear false witness, nor persecute, nor hurt any man injuriously; but they have no power to judge that we may do any one of these: and if they so judge, or command, it is a nulli〈…〉y to the Subject, and worse to themselves. God hath made no men absolute Judges, but given them a Regulating and Limiting Law to Judge by.