A97353:712
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.
One receiveth the Lord supper (the elements) kneeling, and then standeth or sitteth to eat or drink it (supposing that the obligation to receive it kneeling, extendeth not to the eating or drinking of it kneeling): Another doth both receive and eat and drink it kneeling. One useth the names of Altar, Sacrifice, Priest, &c. and another is afraid lest they will introduce the Mass. One that Declareth his assent and consent to all things contained in and prescribed by three books, doth tell us, that he meaneth only that it is lawful to use so much of them as concerneth ⟨p. 160⟩himself to use, and indeed no further to assent or consent to the things or words: Another meaneth plainly as he speaketh. One that taketh the Oxford Oath or that subscribeth not to resist any Commissioned by the King, &c. meaneth it only of a Lawful Commission, and saith, No other is a Commission: Another meaneth it of any Commission. One that sweareth or subscribeth never to endeavour any alteration of Church Government meaneth, by Alteration properly qualitative Alteration; Another meaneth only a change of Episcopacy in genere into another kind: One by Government meaneth the external Government of the Church as it is in the King, according to the Oath of supremacy (which none of us scruple) Another meaneth the spiritual Internal Government by the Keys, that is, the Authoritative management of Gods words. One by [endeavour] meaneth only [unlawful endeavour] Another meaneth as universally as he speaketh Any kind of endeavour, in his place and calling, or out of it. And as to practice we come not into two Churches of ten, where just all the same prayers and parts of the Liturgy are daily read; but one readeth more, and another less; one this part and another that: Nay I have my self communicated in a conformable Parish Church in London, where one half kneel at the receiving of the Sacrament, and the other sit; And all this without any violation of Love or concord; without any grudging or mischievous effects: so that experience shameth the dreaming fears of imposing men.
And in Doctrines Doctor Heylin tells you in the end of his Preface to the Life of A. B. Laud, what liberty of judgement the Church hath left, for how good reasons.