A97353:147
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.
47. And so various and cross are personal interests, and so weak mens judgements, and so many their errors; lusts and passions, their temptations and ill Counsellors, that if it be maintained lawful for the Head or Body to destroy each other, and all the safety of each lie merely in the others will, it will scarce be possible long to keep up a mutual confidence, without which societies are sick or lifeless.
47. And so various and cross are personal interests, and so weak mens judgements, and so many their errours; lusts and passions, their temptations and ill Counsellors, that if it be maintained lawful for the Head or Body to destroy each other, and all the safety of each lie meerly in the others will, it will scarce be possible long to keep up a mutual confidence, without which societies are sick or lifeless.
48. Those that persuade Rulers to Govern only by a frighting force, do treacherously tempt them to seem to the people as their enemies.
48. Those that perswade Rulers to Govern only by a frighting force, do treacherously tempt them to seem to the people as their enemies.
49. God hath not made any one form of Government universally necessary, Monarchy, Aristocracy or Democracy; and who hath the highest power, and in what degree, and under what limits, is not to be decided by Divines from the word of God alone, but by Lawyers from the Constitutions of the respective Common-wealths. And it is usually of ill consequence, when Divines are too forward to go out of their calling, and to be determiners herein; Especially when few of them use to be well studied in the Laws of the Land; at least not comparably to Lawyers, who have made it the business of their lives.