The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

But on the other side, if man command me the doings, or the omissions, which if they should prove unlawful would prove to be Perjury, yea the stigmatizing of Cities and Corporations, Church and Kingdoms in the front with PER, or would prove a murdering of mens souls; and if on the contrary, it should prove lawful to do these things, yet the not doing them will have no other evil, than not obeying the Law; (in such uncertainty) or my own personal suffering; here I would rather not obey, being uncertain of the matter commanded. Not because I am sure which is my duty at all in it self; but that I am sure that to prefer the greater evil, when I know not the good, is an aggravation of that evil: And so to sin, is a double and more dangerous sin.

52. Every Rational creature under Heaven hath a judgment of Discerning, called a Private judgment, by which all must try, know and guide their duties to God and man: And to deny them this is to make them Brutes, and Kings to be but Governors of Cattle; and to tell men, that they must not know when to obey or whom: And it is to go against the judgment of all the sober world.

52. Every Rational creature under Heaven hath a judgment of Discerning, called a Private judgment, by which all must try, know and guide their duties to God and man: And to deny them this is to make them Bruits, and Kings to be but Governours of Cattel; and to tell men, that they must not know when to obey or whom: And it is to go against the judgment of all the sober world.

53. But no subject as such, or private man, hath any Public decisive judgment; nor must in cases Religious or Civil claim the least degree thereof.

53. But no subject as such, or private man, hath any Publick decisive judgment; nor must in cases Religious or Civil claim the least degree thereof.