A26859:211
Richard Baxters answer to Dr. Edward Stillingfleet's charge of separation containing, I. some queries…
Richard Baxters answer to Dr. Edward Stillingfleet's charge of separation containing, I. some queries necessary for the understanding of his accusation, II. a reply to his letter which denieth a solution, III. an answer to his printed sermon : humbly tendered, I. to himself, II. to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and the court of aldermen, III. to the readers of his accusation, the forum where we are accused.Richard Baxters answer to Dr. Edward Stillingfleet's charge of separation containing, I. some queries necessary for the understanding of his accusation, II. a reply to his letter which denyeth a solution, III. an answer to his printed sermon : humbly tendred, I. to himself, II. to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and the court of aldermen, III. to the readers of his accusation, the forum where we are accused.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1680
Letter: To the Reverend Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Pauls, &c.
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.
§. 22. Serm. [Thus National Churches are National Societies of Christians under the same Laws of Government and Rules of Worship.]
Ans. 1. All Christians are under the same Divine Laws and Rules. 2. Some Princes make no Church-Laws to Christians, but their Civil Laws for the common Peace. And some make various Laws for various sorts of Christians under them.
§. 23. Serm. [For the true Notion of a Church is no more than a Society of Men, united together for their Order and Government according to the Rules of the Christian Religion.
Ans. 1. There be many true Notions of such an equivocal word as a [Church] is. 2. The Generical Notion sure is not enough for the definition of each species. There must be more. The Universal Church is a Society of Men so united; and so may the Churches of divers Kingdoms; and so is a Christian Kingdom as such; and so is a Provincial Church, and a Diocesan Church, and a particular Parochial Church: yet all these are not of the same species, for they have different terminos in specie. 3. This is a very defective Definition, where 1. [Men] are made the qualified Subject, when it should have been [Christians]. 2. The two constitutive essential Relations of Pastor and Flock are not mentioned, as if a Kingdom were defined without the mention of King and Subjects. 3. They are said to be united in general, without telling us what uniting is meant, whether only by force, command, or consent; whereas most take even the Mode of Investiture (Baptism) as well as Consent to be necessary ad esse, as to the Visible Church. 4. It is said they