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

57. O that Kings would once all agree to make the Church and world so happy, as to keep all this External forcing power to themselves: and not to trust it in the hands of Clergymen, nor lend their swords to angry Priests to revenge their quarrels on one another; nor yet be themselves the mere Executioners of the sentences of the Presbyters or Prelates; but if they will needs quarrel, leave them to do it with their proper weapons, while the Magistrate himself doth repress their insolencies, and keep the peace. The worst Magistrates almost were like to use the sword more harmlessly, than the Secular Clergy hath hitherto done, through most of all the Christian world.

57. O that Kings would once all agree to make the Church and world so happy, as to keep all this External forcing power to themselves: and not to trust it in the hands of Clergymen, nor lend their swords to angry Priests to revenge their quarrels on one another; nor yet be themselves the meer Executioners of the sentences of the Presbyters or Prelats; but if they will needs quarrel, leave them to do it with their proper weapons, while the Magistrate himself doth repress their insolencies, and keep the peace. The worst Magistrates almost were like to use the sword more harmlesly, than the Secular Clergy hath hitherto done, through most of all the Christian world.

58. Though Kings have no Authority against God, they have a Power which it is too possible to abuse to sin, against many of Gods Laws, and yet not forfeit their office or true Authority thereby.

59. In case of some abuse of Power, the subject may be bound to obey him that abuseth it in that very act or thing. That is, when it is a thing that God forbiddeth the Magistrate to command, but doth not forbid the subject to do, it may become a duty on several accounts to do that thing.