Some text pulled from "The Christian Quaker ..." written in 1680 by William Rogers, for your consideration and recommendation. Spelling and Usage has not been updated.
We acknowledge that we owe Obedience either Active or Passive unto this Magistracy; and that such obedience is as well grounded in the Light of Christ within, as warrantable from the Scriptures of Truth without; for when the Magistrate doth command Obedience unto any Law, which is agreeable to the Law of God (as indeed no Laws of England according to the Constitution of its Government, and those maxims which are declared for Law, ought to be contrary thereto) then we ought to yield Active Obedience; and whilst the Magistrates are in Execution of such Laws, they are (as occasion requires) Punishers of those that do Evil, and a Praise unto them that do well[1]; which is agreeable unto the testimony of the Apostle's touching Magistracy, unto whom in such cases Active Obedience is to be given for the Lord's sake.
Obj. You speak very well so far as you have limited your Obedience to Good Laws; but what if those in power should make such Laws, which you account bad, and not grounded on the Law of God, but directly against those whom you term God's People; dare you then say that 'tis agreeable unto the Light of Christ within, and Scriptures of Truth without, to yield Obedience in such cases?
To this we answer, 'tis agreeable to the Light within, and the Scriptures of Truth without, that a Christian yield Passive Obedience, since for Conscience sake (chusing rather to obey God than man, which was the Apostle's Case)[2] he cannot yield_ Active Obedience: For we find the Counsel of Christ to be on this wise;_Resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other[3]; which clearly shews 'tis against the Doctrine of Christ to resist; and so consequently we ought to be Passive; and therefore, since we have not at any time pleaded for any other Light within, save the Light of Christ; it is as well agreeable unto the Light of Christ within, as with the Counsel of Christ in the Scriptures of truth without, that men, under the profession of _Christianity, put in practice that wholsom Counsel, which was given by Christ the Son of God, whose ways are unchangeable, _viz.
