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

2. We obey it not as evil, but as good: The inconvenient Time, Place, &c. is not good as inconvenient, but as a means of Order and Concord, and so we use it. And the General Nature of Obedience is good; and if we must do no good, which we cannot do without some adherent evil, we must never Pray, Preach, Eat, Drink, or Trade more.

Pr. 5. if a Ruler go beyond (and so without) his Authority, yet in several Cases we may be bound to do what he Commandeth, as such.

For Instance, In case the thing be in it self good, or at least indifferent and Lawful; and the Honour of the Ruler, or the Peace of the Society dependeth on our material obeying him: It is our Duty to honour the King, and our Parents and Pastors, and to avoid all things that will dishonour them; or that will encourage others in disobedience, or disorder the Society. If therefore it were granted to be the Pastors Duty, and not the Kings, toward our Prayers and Sermons, and choose Translations, Chapters, Metres, Tunes, &c. yet if the King do it, though beyond his Calling; that is, If he appoint us what Chapter to read every day in Public, and Command some Prayers to be read, and some Homilies, or Printed Sermons to be sometime read, which are all good and lawful in themselves, not destroying the Office of the Ministry; and if by him, or the People, it be taken for Contempt, and a dishonouring him, to disobey him, the General Command of honouring the King, will here oblige us to the Commanded Action.

For Instance, In case the thing be in it self good, or at least indifferent and Lawful; and the Honour of the Ruler, or the Peace of the Society dependeth on our material obeying him: It is our Duty to honour the King, and our Parents and Pastors, and to avoid all things that will dishonour them; or that will encourage others in disobedience, or disorder the Society. If therefore it were granted to be the Pastors Duty, and not the Kings, toword our Prayers and Sermons, and chuse Translations, Chapters, Metres, Tunes, &c. yet if the King do it, though beyond his Calling; that is, If he appoint us what Chapter to read every day in Publick, and Command some Prayers to be read, and some Homilies, or Printed Sermons to be sometime read, which are all good and lawful in themselves, not destroying the Office of the Ministry; and if by him, or the People, it be taken for Contempt, and a dishonouring him, to disobey him, the General Command of honouring the King, will here oblige us to the Commanded Action.