A97353:235
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.
7. Therefore no Creature hath an Absolute or unlimited power; because they are all limited by God the universal Sovereign. They that with fiery indignation have numbered this doctrine with our errors, should have considered, that how small a matter soever it is, to say that all the lives and estates of the subject, are unlimitedly at every Sovereigns will, yet it is not a small thing for a Divine to hold, that a King may make Laws to command men to curse God or deny him, or renounce Christ and the hope of salvation, or to kill father, or mother without cause &c. which must follow if he be unlimited by God. Dr. Sibthorpe never said so.
7. Therefore no Creature hath an Absolute or unlimited power; because they are all limited by God the universal Soveraign. They that with fiery indignation have numbered this doctrine with our errors, should have considered, that how small a matter soever it is, to say that all the lives and estates of the subject, are unlimitedly at every Soveraigns will, yet it is not a small thing for a Divine to hold, that a King may make Laws to command men to curse God or deny him, or renounce Christ and the hope of salvation, or to kill father, or mother without cause &c. which must follow if he be unlimited by God. Dr. Sibthorpe never said so.
8. It is one of the tricks of the Enemies of Sovereignty, cunningly to maintain that Kings have a Power to do all the mischief in the world, and want nothing but a will; that so they may put the subjects in a fright when they hear the description of one that is empowered to do so much evil, and may make them still distrustful, as thinking that one mans will is insufficient security for all their estates and lives and souls; and so may turn their Love and trust, into hatred and distrust. Therefore such flatterers are hated by wise Princes.
8. It is one of the tricks of the Enemies of Soveraignty, cunningly to maintain that Kings have a Power to do all the mischief in the world, and want nothing but a will; that so they may put the subjects in a fright when they hear the description of one that is impowred to do so much evil, and may make them still distrustful, as thinking that one mans will is insufficient security for all their estates and lives and souls; and so may turn their Love and trust, into hatred and distrust. Therefore such flatterers are hated by wise Princes.