A97353:378
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.
XIV. Though there be some reverend persons that hold that Ministers only hold their power from Christ as Redeemer, and Magistrates not so, but only from God the Creator as ruling by common providence, and not by Christ, we greatly dissent from this conceit, and believe that God who after the fall set up a Law or Covenant of Grace to all mankind, in Adam and Noah, doth govern none on earth, either by such providence as he governeth brutes without Law; nor yet by the first Law of Innocency or perfection alone (making Innocency the condition of Life, to them that are already guilty) but all are under a Law of grace: And all persons and things are delivered to Christ, and put into his hands and power, and he is made Head over all things to the Church, even the Lord of dead and living, and the general administrator, even among them that hear not of his name: All judgement is committed to him, (Joh. 5. 22. Eph. 1. 22, 23. Rom. 14. 9, 10, &c.) He is the Alpha and Omega; the Giver and the end of Power. And they that say that the world hath so good a thing as Magistracy without Christs procurement, may next feign many more mercies to be given to the miserable without Christ, and so that God could pardon sin without him, and next that we be saved and come to heaven without him, and his grace.
XIV. Though there be some reverend persons that hold that Ministers only hold their power from Christ as Redeemer, and Magistrates not so, but only from God the Creator as ruling by common providence, and not by Christ, we greatly dissent from this conceit, and believe that God who after the fall set up a Law or Covenant of Grace to all mankind, in Adam and Noah, doth govern none on earth, either by such providence as he governeth bruits without Law; nor yet by the first Law of Innocency or perfection alone (making Innocency the condition of Life, to them that are already guilty) but all are under a Law of grace: And all persons and things are delivered to Christ, and put into his hands and power, and he is made Head over all things to the Church, even the Lord of dead and living, and the general administrator, even among them that hear not of his name: All judgement is committed to him, (Joh. 5. 22.