Thus, as truth-speaking succeeded swearing, so faith and patience
succeeded fighting, in the doctrine and practice of this people. Nor
ought they for this to be obnoxious to civil government, since, if they
cannot fight for it, neither can they fight against it; which is no mean
security to any state. Nor is it reasonable, that people should be
blamed for not doing more for others than they can do for themselves.
And, Christianity set aside, if the costs and fruits of war were well
considered, peace, with all its inconveniencies, is generally preferable.
But though they were not for fighting, they were for submitting to
government, and that, not only for fear, but for conscience-sake, where
government doth not interfere with conscience; believing it to be an
ordinance of God, and where it is justly administered, a great benefit to
mankind. Though it has been their lot, through blind zeal in some, and
interest in others, to have felt the strokes of it with greater weight
and rigour than any other persuasion in this age; whilst they of all
others, religion set aside, have given the civil magistrate the least
occasion of trouble in the discharge of his office.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42