A97353:723
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.
54. By a tender Conscience we mean the same that God in his promise doth by a heart of flesh in opposition to a stony heart: We suppose Holiness to consist in the sanctity of the three natural faculties, Active power, understanding and will; and […]o consist in Life, Light and Love; As a state of unholiness consisteth, in Deadness, Darkness and Disaffection. It is therefore a Conscience that hath Spiritual life and feeling that we mean, and that perceiveth more the evil of the least sin, than a fornicator or ⟨p. 164⟩a drunkard, or a proud oppressor doth perceive the greatest. Therefore as for them that take a tender Conscience to be but a tender (that is, a soft or foolish) head, we envy them not the honour of a s[…]ared Conscience, or a hardened heart, that is p[…]st feeling, Eph. 4. 19.
54. By a tender Conscience we mean the same that God in his promise doth by a heart of flesh in opposition to a stony heart: We suppose Holiness to consist in the sanctity of the three natural faculties, Active power, understanding and will; and 〈…〉o consist in Life, Light and Love; As a state of unholiness consisteth, in Deadness, Darkness and Disaffection. It is therefore a Conscience that hath Spiritual life and feeling that we mean, and that perceiveth more the evil of the least sin, than a fornicator or ⟨p. 164⟩a drunkard, or a proud oppressor doth perceive the greatest. Therefore as for them that take a tender Conscience to be but a tender (that is, a soft or foolish) head, we envy them not the honour of a s〈…〉ared Conscience, or a hardned heart, that is p〈…〉st feeling, Eph. 4. 19.
55. The imposing of unnecessary subscriptions, professions or Oaths, is the way to fill the Church with men that are not troubled with tender Consciences, and that have no fear of God or sin: For if there be a thousand Atheists, Infidels or impious debauched persons, that either believe not, or regard not the life to come, and make no Conscience of any sin at all, what should hinder all or any of these, from saying, subscribing or swearing any thing, that their profit or honour or ease or safety doth require? And seeing undoubtedly it is so, Quaere, whether he that believeth that ever he shall be judged by the great Pastor of the flock, should not be as much at least afraid, of letting in such Presbyters as these into the Churches of his Diocese, as of enduring holy faithful men, that fear a lie or Oath or superstition.