A97353:468
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.
The Political Alphabet of The selfish Treacherous Royalist. 1. Gods authority is to be pretended to warrant Rulers to rebel against him; and rule as above or without his Laws. 2. Gods Laws are for private souls to study, but not for Princes to regulate their Laws and lives by. 3. Serious Religion is an enemy to Monarchy, because it sets up Gods Laws above the Kings, and maketh all Subjects the discerners of their duty to God and the King, and so every scruple of duty or sin towards God, suspendeth their obedience to the King. 4. Monarchs are absolute and unlimited by any Laws of God. 5. None of their own contracts called fundamental Laws bind them. 6. The lives and possessions ⟨p. 108⟩of all the Subjects are absolutely at their will. 7. Monarchy is so of Gods institution that no other form of Government is lawful. 8. It is the interest of Kings to have all things and persons at their wills: and to take all for enemies that are against their wills. 9. All sorts of sensual pleasure, riches and absolute command of all, being the things which nature loveth, these are the interest and ends of Princes. 10. It is the interest and wisdom of a Subject to subserve these ends, that he may have as great a share in them as he can attain by pleasing his Prince therein. 11. Every man is born for himself, and his self is more to him than all the world. And he may serve his own interest though it be against the common good or right. 12. The interest and wills of the people are contrary to the interest and will of Ki[…]gs: It is therefore the wisdom of Kings to suppose them his adversaries, and to weaken▪ them and disable them from crossing his will. 13. He that will be next the King in greatness, must be next him in enmity to the peoples wealth, & strength and in disabling them. ⟨p. 109⟩14. Re[…]oboams young Counsellors mist it only in advising him openly to declare his purpose, which he should have dissembled and hid. 15. A wise Prince ruleth in the dark, and must not scruple necessary lying or perfidiousness. 16. It is nobler to be Great, than to be Good; wherein the poor may be equal to the Prince: For he that is Great is Good to himself, which is the only or chief goodness. 17. Fear though it breed enmity, is a better part of Government than Love. Fear is to be caused by deeds, and Love by words. 18.
The Political Alphabet of The selfish Treacherous Royallist. 1. GOds authority is to be pretended to warrant Rulers to rebell against him; and rule as above or without his Laws. 2. Gods Laws are for private souls to study, but not for Princes to regulate their Laws and lives by. 3. Serious Religion is an enemy to Monarchy, because it sets up Gods Laws above the Kings, and maketh all Subjects the discerners of their duty to God and the King, and so every scruple of duty or sin towards God, suspendeth their obedience to the King. 4. Monarchs are absolute and unlimited by any Laws of God. 5. None of their own contracts called fundamental Laws bind them. 6. The lives and possessions