A97353:703
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.
36. Yet we know that every Pastor is to guide his own Church in needful circumstances, as the time and place of worship, the method, the versions, the tunes, the utensils and other things forementioned: And no Christian should be peevishly froward, and disobedient against such determinations. But as none that are needless should be imposed (for the determination one way or other must be necessary, though this or that way be not comparatively necessary), so they are not to be made more necessary by mens wills than they are in their use; At least not made the matter of excommunication. But if the Pastor necessarily appoint one time, one place, one tune, one translation, &c. and any of the people therefore fly away and causelessly a void the Church, it is they then that cast out themselves by departing: But if he needlessly say, You shall say this, or subscribe, or conform to many needless burdens, or else have no communion here, the act of exclusion then is his.
36. Yet we know that every Pastor is to guide his own Church in needful circumstances, as the time and place of worship, the method, the versions, the tunes, the utensils and other things formentioned: And no Christian should be peevishly froward, and disobedient against such determinations. But as none that are needless should be imposed (for the determination one way or other must be necessary, though this or that way be not comparatively necessary), so they are not to be made more necessary by mens wills than they are in their use; At least not made the matter of excommunication. But if the Pastor necessarily appoint one time, one place, one tune, one translation, &c. and any of the people therefore fly away and causlesly a void the Church, it is they then that cast out themselves by departing: But if he needlesly say, You shall say this, or subscribe, or conform to many needless burdens, or else have no communion here, the act of exclusion then is his.
37. True Love would end our greatest difference: Let men Love their neighbours without dissembling as themselves, and do but as they would be done by, and we will not fear them.