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

§. 28. Rule 20. p. 323. Ecclesiastical Laws must ever promote the service of God and the good of souls, but must never put a Snare or Stumbling-block to Consciences ⟨p. 101⟩—The authority which the Lord hath given is for edification and not for destruction, 2 Cor. 10. 8. and 13. 10. And this is not only so to be understood, that if the Church makes Laws which are not for edification, she does amiss; but that she OBLIGETH NOT, HER LAWS ARE NULL, and do not bind in Conscience—When the Church does any thing beyond her Commission, she does no way oblige in Conscience, neither actively nor passively— All this is greatly to be observed in all cases of Conscience about Ecclesiastical Laws. If we can understand where the spiritual power can command, and where she can exhort and ought to prevail, we have found out all the measures of our obedience: But if she goes beyond her Commission, she hurts none but her self: for she hath nothing to do with our bodies, and our souls are in safe hands. And the case is much alike if the spiritual Law be bound by the Civil power: For the King when he makes Laws of Religion, is tied up to the Evangelical measures; and if he prevaricates, he does indeed tie us to a passive obedience, but the Conscience is no otherwise bound: and he is to govern Christs Church by the same measures with which the Apostles did, and the Bishops their successors did and ought to do before the Civil power was Christian: For he hath no more power over Consciences than they had, and ought not by the afflictions of the body to invade the soul. But if he does, [Greek or Hebrew], he hath only power over bodies, but no authority over the Conscience.]

§. 28. Rule 20. p. 323. Ecclesiastical Laws must ever promote the service of God and the good of souls, but must never put a Snare or Stumbling-block to Consciences ⟨p. 101⟩—The authority which the Lord hath given is for edification and not for destruction, 2 Cor. 10. 8. and 13. 10. And this is not only so to be understood, that if the Church makes Laws which are not for edification, she does amiss; but that she OBLIGETH NOT, HER LAWS ARE NULL, and do not bind in Conscience—When the Church does any thing beyond her Commission, she does no way oblige in Conscience, neither actively nor passively— All this is greatly to be observed in all cases of Conscience about Ecclesiastical Laws. If we can understand where the spiritual power can command, and where she can exhort and ought to prevail, we have found out all the measures of our obedience: But if she goes beyond her Commission, she hurts none but her self: for she hath nothing to do with our bodies, and our souls are in safe hands. And the case is much alike if the spiritual Law be bound by the Civil power: For the King when he makes Laws of Religion, is tyed up to the Evangelical measures; and if he prevaritates, he does indeed tye us to a passive obedience, but the Conscience is no otherwise bound: and he is to govern Christs Church by the same measures with which the Apostles did, and the Bishops their successors did and ought to do before the Civil power was Christian: For he hath no more power over Consciences than they had, and ought not by the afflictions of the body to invade the soul. But if he does, , he hath only power over bodies, but no authority over the Conscience.]