A97353:318
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.
9. Therefore all Laws and Mandates that are notoriously against God or his Laws, or the common safety (that is, destructive to the Common-wealth and welfare) are ipso facto null, or not obligatory, no more than a Justices precepts against the King.
10. Submission yet may be a duty, and resistance a sin, where obedience is not due; of which more anon in due place.
11. The people are not the fountain of power, nor the donors of it; nor, as such, have they any right to Governing, either to use themselves or to give to others; Though they or part of them may have some in Democracies by the species of the Government, or in mixed Governments; but otherwise they have none by Nature. The Government of Republics is not by an arbitrary Collation of each mans personal power to some one: But God hath prevented them, and made it necessary by the Law of Nature and Scripture, that there be Governors as his Officers under him, to whom the people shall submit, in all cases where such can be had; and hath given them universal Laws according to which they must Rule.
11. The people are not the fountain of power, nor the donors of it; nor, as such, have they any right to Governing, either to use themselves or to give to others; Though they or part of them may have some in Democracies by the species of the Government, or in mixt Governments; but otherwise they have none by Nature. The Government of Republicks is not by an arbitrary Collation of each mans personal power to some one: But God hath prevented them, and made it necessary by the Law of Nature and Scripture, that there be Governours as his Officers under him, to whom the people shall submit, in all cases where such can be had; and hath given them universal Laws according to which they must Rule.