A97353:573
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.
14. It is seditious to say that any Subject may discern and judge what is good or evil: For the rule of Good and evil, just and unjust, honest and dishonest, is only the Cities Laws, and whatever the Lawmaker commandeth is good, and whatever he forbids is evil. It's seditious to say that we must not obey Kings when they command things evil and unjust; for antecedent to mans Empire nothing is just or unjust, but all actions are indifferent: This was Gods oldest Law, Thou shalt not eat of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil, that is, not make thy self a discerning judge of it: and the oldest temptation was, you shall be as Gods knowing good and evil. pag. 191.
15. It is seditious to say that it is lawful to kill a Tyrant (that is not an Usurper,) for then every murderer were master of a Monarchs life: And yet All the old Sophists, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, and the rest of the fautors of the Greek and Roman Anarchy thought it not only Lawful, but worthy of the greatest praise. p. 193.
16. It is seditious to say that the highest Power may be divided. What more pernicious to the City than that men should be affrighted with the fear of everlasting torment from obeying Princes, that is, Laws, that is, from being just? p. 197.
16. It is seditious to say that the highest Power may be divided. What more pernicions to the City than that men should be affrighted with the fear of everlasting torment from obeying Princes, that is, Laws, that is, from being just? p. 197.