A97353:767
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.
82. My own acquaintance in England persuadeth me confidently to believe, that (however very many would venture their souls to save their bodies, yet) if the Bishops could get Laws to hang all Nonconformists, or burn them as the Protestants in Queen Maris days, there would many hundred Ministers, and many thousand of private Christians, rather be burnt than do the things now questioned against their Consciences.
82. My own acquaintance in England perswadeth me confidently to believe, that (however very many would venture their souls to save their bodies, yet) if the Bishops could get Laws to hang all Nonconformists, or burn them as the Protestants in Queen Marys days, there would many hundred Ministers, and many thousand of private Christians, rather be burnt than do the things now questioned against their Consciences.
83. He that trusteth to punishments to procure Church concord, must in reason look to the end of such punishments, and not delude himself and his superiors, by thinking that they will do what he would have them do. When lesser punishments are tried, either he will proceed to greater, or not. If not, he hath but confirmed those whom he thought to change, and made the matter worse than before: If yea; then he must resolve how far to go. If he come short of banishment or death, the persons are still left alive, uncured and more stiffened. If he would have our Rulers proceed to banishment or death, either it must be of some, or of all Nonconformists. If but ⟨p. 177⟩some, the rest will survive to be a differing party, and will increase their company by the advantage of their brethren's sufferings. Would any man have thought that when Queen Maris flames had consumed so many, the remnant should change Religion so soon? Or when the French Massacre had murdered forty thousand (as D'avila computeth, or thirty thousand as credible Th[…]anus) that the remnant (even when the Leaders were cut off) should be thereby so increased, exasperated and strengthened, as to do that which was shortly after done, till their Head was King? Or when the Irish had so quickly murdered two hundred thousand, that the survivors should so quickly use them more severely than ever they had been used before?