A26859:216
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.
§. 24. Serm. p. 13. [And it is a great mistake to make the Notion of a Church barely to relate to Acts of Worship, and consequently that an adequate Notion of a Church is an Assembly for Divine Worship; by which means they appropriate the Name of Churches to particular Congregations: whereas if this held true, the Church must be dissolved as soon as the Congregation is broken up. But if they retain the nature of a Church when they do not meet together for Worship, then there is some other Bond that uniteth them; and whatever that is, it constitutes the Church.
Ans. 1. Did you write this as a Confutation of any body? If so, you should have told them who are your Adversaries. I never met with one to my remembrance that saith, the Church is no longer a Church than they are congregate, but Mr. Cheney who writeth against my Plea for Peace. And so the two first who now write against me, write against one another, and I must please them both. When you so far differ among your selves, you should bear with them that less differ from you.
2. What mean you by the [Notion of a Church] which all Men know is an equivocal word? Do you mean that a [Church] hath but one Notion? I pray you tell us, whether the Notion be the same as it is used, Matth. 16. 18. & 18. 17. 1 Corinth. 11. 18, 22. Acts 19. 32, — 39, 40. 1 Corinth. 14. 34. Psalm 26. 5.