A97353:141
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.
41. One man is less worth than multitudes caeteris paribus; and every man is a part of the Universe, and is not born for himself alone: therefore howsoever sense may reach but to the Individual fleshly interest; common reason tells us that he liveth not like a man, who preferreth himself before his Country, and had rather Millions or Kingdoms perished than he alone.
42. Our common Nature telleth us, that mans will was made to Love Good as Good, and not to Love our personal commodity alone: and that an excellent person or thing in another part of the world, is amiable, though never like to be a commodity to us: therefore the greatest Good should be greatliest loved, even in our Neighbours as well as in our selves, and our Country above our selves.
43. Though a Prince have not Authority to make Laws to the hurt of the Common-wealth as such, or sub hac ratione, yet he hath Authority to judge what is for the good of the Common-wealth as a Ruler, and subjects must acquiesce in his judgement, when cogent evidence ⟨p. 17⟩of the contrary doth not forbid them. And when they know that a Law is against the common good, and obligeth not to formal obedience, yet because the general Law of Honouring our Rulers still continues, and sometimes disobeying may tend more to the common hurt, than the obedience of that hurtful Law may do, where God himself forbids it not, material obedience in such cases is a duty.