A97353:659
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.
28. Whether one in each Synod shall be Moderator, and that pro tempore or durante vitâ as oft as there are Synods? and whether one shall be trusted to summon such Synods, and how he shall preside to preserve peace and order, are matters prudently to be determined, as the edification of the Church requireth, so that Church Tyranny be not introduced.
29. As Pastors of several Churches have not a Governing power over other Bishops and Pastors, but only by Synods are to give counsel and keep concord; so none of them in the world can excommunicate other Bishops or Pastors, as Governors of them: but only disclaim Communion with such public Heretics and Incendiaries as deserve it, and counsel others to do the li[…]e: but when they have done, they have done their part. But if moreover they will do as the Pope doth, and excommunicate people and Pastors of other Churches and countries, and Kings themselves as if they were their Governors, and also stir up others to draw the Sword against them, and seek to force Kings to kill or banish or punish those that they have excommunicated, merely as such, we take such to be professed Incendiaries in the world.
29. As Pastors of several Churches have not a Governing power over other Bishops and Pastors, but only by Synods are to give counsel and keep concord; so none of them in the world can excommunicate other Bishops or Pastors, as Governours of them: but only disclaim Communion with such publick Hereticks and Incendiaries as deserve it, and counsel others to do the li〈…〉e: but when they have done, they have done their part. But if moreover they will do as the Pope doth, and excommunicate people and Pastors of other Churches and countreys, and Kings themselves as if they were their Governors, and also stir up others to draw the Sword against them, and seek to force Kings to kill or banish or punish those that they have excommunicated, meerly as such, we take such to be professed Incendiaries in the world.