A97353:175
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.
18. Gods Laws are as perfect for duties of Love and Justice to man, as for duty of Love and worship to God.
19. But because the materials of humane justice and Beneficences are more mutable than those of holy love and worship, therefore there is incomparably more left to humane determination in that, than in this.
20. It belongeth to the sufficiency and perfection of Gods Laws, to determine of all things in specie (or particularly) which as moral means are Universally necessary to the good of all mankind (whether greater or lesser good) in all times or places of the world. And to make all that Duty for men, which shall be Universally duty to all the world; and to forbid all that evil which shall be sin Universally to all. For there is no Universal Governor but God and our Redeemer, therefore there is no ⟨p. 25⟩universal Law but his. It is usurpation against the Right and Laws of God and of Jesus Christ, for any either Person or Collective body, Prince, Pope or Council, to claim an Universal Sovereignty over all the persons, Kingdoms or Churches in the world. For as none of them are naturally capable of such a trust, as to the exercise, so de facto God hath not committed such a Sovereignty and trust to any personal or collective Vicegerent under Christ. Therefore they accuse Gods Laws of Imperfection, who say that he hath left out any thing (both in Nature and Scripture) which is of universal necessity, or which man may make to become a duty by any one Universal Law.
20. It belongeth to the sufficiency and perfection of Gods Laws, to determine of all things in specie (or particularly) which as moral means are Vniversally necessary to the good of all mankind (whether greater or lesser good) in all times or places of the world. And to make all that Duty for men, which shall be Universally duty to all the world; and to forbid all that evil which shall be sin Universally to all. For there is no Universal Governour but God and our Redeemer, therefore there is no