A97353:136
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their principles about civil and ecclesiastical authority and obedience ... : mostly written many years past, and now published to save our lives and the kingdoms peace, from the false and bloody plotters ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
36. Gods Laws bind Kings as well as subjects, and give force to their Laws, and nothing of man's is obligatory to us, which is against them; for none can dispense with them.
37. All Government that is lawful is for Gods Glory and the Common Good. And Laws that are certainly and notoriously against God and the common Good, have no true obliging power to formal obedience on the soul.
38. Yet such particular Laws disoblige not the subject from subjection, nor from keeping up the honour of Governors, while they Govern for God and the common Good in the main.
38. Yet such particular Laws disoblige not the subject from subjection, nor from keeping up the honour of Governours, while they Govern for God and the common Good in the main.
39. Though the common description of Tyrants in Politicians and Lawyers is (quoad exercitium) that they are ⟨p. 16⟩such as Govern not for the common good, but for their own, yet men must take heed, that hence they infer nor either, 1. that we are made judges of the secret intentions of our Rulers hearts, or 2. that one or a few Laws or actions may denominate them such, 3. yea though we knew that they preferred themselves in their intents, it is enough to us, if they preserve the common good in their practice. Else almost all ungodly Rulers would be Tyrants, for it is their common vice to be most for themselves.