A97353:836
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.
31. And we the less wonder that there are more differences among the zealouser sort in matters of Religion, than among the ungodly who really have no Religion, but are indifferent to all, which letteth them ⟨p. 198⟩quietly enjoy their sin: For men that highliest value any thing, are likest to be tempted to strive about it. If you cast gold and jewels in the street, men are liker to fight and quarrel for them, than dogs or swine. We are glad they seriously value truth, though we are sorry that they cannot more clearly and concordantly understand it.
32. If we thought that mere Civil good neighbourhood, and the common state and life of men in their unrenewed naturals, were better, or as good as the state and life of imperfect believers, with all their troublesome mistakes and […], we would next become humble Petitioners to Authority, that they would put down both Prelates and Presbyters, and take their lands and Tithes into their own lands, and employ them to some better use; and that they would shut up the Church doors, and banish the Clergy as the plague and troublers of the land, that do but vex the world with fables, and will not let men live in peace. For experience assureth us that Perfection is not the state of Christians in this life.
32. If we thought that meer Civil good neighbourhood, and the common state and life of men in their unrenewed naturals, were better, or as good as the state and life of imperfect believers, with all their troublesome mistakes and 〈…〉, we would next become humble Petitioners to Authority, that they would put down both Prelates and Presbyters, and take their lands and Tythes into their own lands, and employ them to some better use; and that they would shut up the Church doors, and banish the Clergy as the plague and troublers of the land, that do but vex the world with fables, and will not let men live in peace. For experience assureth us that Perfection is not the state of Christans in this life.