A97353:651
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.
21. Two causes fill the Churches with bad Pastors: The one is when the Honours and Riches of the Office are so great as to be a strong bait to Pride and Covetousness (under the name of encouragements to Learning) for then most certainly the most Proud and Covetous (that is the worst) will be the eagerest seekers, and most probably they that seek shall find. The other is when bad Rulers, Patrons or people are the choosers.
22. Wicked, Covetous, carnal, proud men admitted into Bishoprics and Ministry have been the woeful plague of the Church, especially for thirteen hundred years: For bad men will so teach and so live, that the Best of the flock will most dislike them, and then they will turn enemies to the Best for disliking them, and will Preach against them and make them as odious as they can: and this will rejoice the profane part of the flock which naturally hate holiness: and so the wicked Pastor, and wicked People will become a Party against the Best, and keep them under reproach and persecution: Whereupon the sufferers will be tempted not only to greater dislike, but to undue ⟨p. 144⟩passions and separations; and if the Magistrates take part with the wicked party, they also will partake of the dislike; and so wicked Pastors are the floodgates of confusion, and happy are those Rulers that curb them, and help the Churches to faithful men.
22. Wicked, Covetous, carnal, proud men admitted into Bishopricks and Ministry have been the woful plague of the Church, especially for thirteen hundred years: For bad men will so teach and so live, that the Best of the flock will most dislike them, and then they will turn enemies to the Best for disliking them, and will Preach against them and make them as odious as they can: and this will rejoyce the prophane part of the flock which naturally hate holiness: and so the wicked Pastor, and wicked People will become a Party against the Best, and keep them under reproach and persecution: Whereupon the sufferers will be tempted not only to greater dislike, but to undue ⟨p. 144⟩