A97353:388
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.
XXIV. We renounce their treachery who would weaken the Kings Interest by dividing his Subjects, and building up unnecessary walls of partition between them▪ to keep them in such divisions, and would thereby cherish hatred, contention and mutinies among them, seeing, a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand: And it is unsafe and uncomfortable to a Prince to rule a divided mutinous people, and sweet and safe to rule them that are united in mutual Love: Therefore we detest their way that would lay the peoples Concord upon uncapable terms, and bring the Kings interest in his peoples Love and willing obedience and ready defence of him, into too ••rrow a bottom, making him the King of some causelessly divided and espoused party which must be set up to the oppression of all the rest, who are as wise and just and loyal as they.
XXIV. We renounce their treachery who would weaken the Kings Interest by dividing his Subjects, and building up unnecessary walls of partition between them▪ to keep them in such divisions, and would thereby cherish hatred, contention and mutinies among them, seeing, a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand: And it is unsafe and uncomfortable to a Prince to rule a divided mutinous people, and sweet and safe to rule them that are united in mutual Love: Therefore we detest their way that would lay the peoples Concord upon uncapable terms, and bring the Kings interest in his peoples Love and willing obedience and ready defence of him, into too ••rrow a bottom, making him the King of some causelesly divided and espoused party which must be set up to the oppression of all the rest, who are as wise and just and loyal as they.
XXV. It is treachery against Princes to tell them that they are not bound by their Oaths, Vows, and Promises; that thereby their Subjects may be brought into utter distrustfulness of them. And how can there be due obedience and adhering to Rulers where there is no Trust?