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CHAP. IV More of the Cases, wherein faithful Bishops and Mini∣sters, are bound to stick to their Pastoral Powers and Ministrations.
BUT when Immoral and Unrighteous Practices, are Justified in any particular Case: Since those Practices are litterally and di∣rectly Condemned by Moral Precepts, they who pretend to Justifie them, must find some way to reconcile and take off those Pre∣cepts. So that this Justification of Immoral Practices in a particular Case, will be sure to bring on another Step, which will make this Mi∣nistration of all true Pastors still more Necessary, and that is,
2. Secondly, The eluding, or vacating of Moral Duties, and Precepts opposite thereto, by Doctrinal Salvo's.
When Men both act, and justifie immoral things, they do not ordi∣narily renounce the Duties transgressed thereby, under their general and received Names; but start such Doctrines and Principles about them, for Salvo's, as elude, or vacate them in Practice.
Thus, the Jesuites allow the sinfulnes of Lying. But they say, what is Spoken is no Lye, if they can make it a Truth by a Mental Reser∣vation; or by the Aequivocalness and Ambiguity, of any Words or Sen∣tences, whereby it is Expressed.
Thus also others admit the Damnableness, of Resisting the Higher Power, according to St. † 1.1 Paul, or of Raising Rebellion. But they say, this is only resisting them, whilst they keep to Laws, and within the Bounds of Legal Powers, and the Frame of the Government; not when they go beyond them. They own, that by the Fifth Commandement, and o∣ther Scriptural Precepts, Allegiance is due to their Soveraign Prince. But they teach withal, sometimes, as the Papists, that it is in the Power of the Pope; or, as others, that it is in the power of the People; to depose their Princes, and then they are no longer Soveraigns. And thereby, to Absolve and Discharge themselves, from owing and bear∣ing them any more Allegiance. Which Positions, for Deposing Princes, and for Absolving Subjects from their Allegiance to them, have passed in the Account of our Laws and Church, for Damnable Doctrines. Or else they say, that this Allegiance, is due for the Sake of Publick Good;