A26859:242
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.
6. But the difficulty recurreth as to Humane Laws, which of them are necessary to the Being of the Church: For your Definition distinguished not: The King hath great and excellent Laws which we all conform to: Doth not our Conformity to these seem to prove us of the National Church, though we conform not to your Formalities and Oaths and Ceremonies? Imperfect Obedience serveth to continue men Subjects to the King: It is not every Drunkenness, or Oath, or Fornication, much less the miss of a Complement or Ceremony, that makes a Man a Rebel or an Outlaw: Why then should the refusal of a Prelates Subscription or Formality unchurch a sound and honest Christian?
6. But the difficulty recurreth as to Humane Laws, which of them are necessary to the Being of the Church: For your Definition distinguished not: The King hath great and excellent Laws which we all conform to: Doth not our Conformity to these seem to prove us of the National Church, though we conform not to your Formalities and Oaths and Ceremonies? Imperfect Obedience serveth to continue men Subjects to the King: It is not every Drunkeness, or Oath, or Fornication, much less the miss of a Complement or Ceremony, that makes a Man a Rebel or an Outlaw: Why then should the refusal of a Prelates Subscription or Formality unchurch a sound and honest Christian?
7. And if the humane Laws and Rules which you mention (what ever you mean by them) be subordinate to God's Laws, and so be honest, good and obligatory, why should they cut off those from the Church which Christ's Laws cut not off; yea, which Christ receiveth and commandeth us to receive? Receive him, for God receiveth him: and, receive him as Christ receiveth us, (notwithstanding our Infirmities) were good reasonings in St. Paul's Judgment, which I prefer before any Bishops that I know.
8. And a Man of less Acquaintance or Wit than you, cannot be ignorant, what abundance of Differences there are among your selves. I have named you no small number in my d. Plea: some of you are hot against that which is called Arminianism, and some hot for it: some are for Bishops and Presbyters being of one Order, and some of divers: all are not of the mind of the Bishop of Hereford that wrote Naked Truth: some (even Bishops) think that the damnatory part of Athanasius's Creed is not approved by Conformity: others, think that it is all to be approved: A multitude such