A26859:281
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.
V. Doth every disobedience to the King, and Laws, and Canons in matters of Religion, Government and Worship, make men Separatists? If so, then when ever a Conformist disobediently shorteneth his Common-Prayer, or leaveth off his Surplice, or giveth the Sacrament to one that kneeleth not, or receiveth one of another Parish to Communion, &c. he is a separatist. Yea no man then is not a Separatist sometimes.
V. Doth every disobedience to the King, and Laws, and Canons in matters of Religion, Government and Worship, make men Separatists? If so, then when ever a Conformist disobediently shortneth his Common-Prayer, or leaveth off his Surplice, or giveth the Sacrament to one that kneeleth not, or receiveth one of another Parish to Communion, &c. he is a separatist. Yea no man then is not a Separatist sometimes.
VI. If the Diocesan be the lowest political Church, and a Parish but a part of a Church, as they hold that take a Bishop to be a Constitutive part; how is he said to separate from the Church that owneth his Diocesan and the Diocese, what ever place in that Diocese he meet in, seeing he separateth not from the Kingdom that stayeth in it and owneth the King, though in some acts he disobey? Nor doth every Boy that is faulty separate from the School.
VI. If the Diocesane be the lowest political Church, and a Parish but a part of a Church, as they hold that take a Bishop to be a Constitutive part; how is he said to separate from the Church that owneth his Diocesane and the Diocess, what ever place in that Diocess he meet in, seeing he separateth not from the Kingdom that stayeth in it and owneth the King, though in some acts he disobey? Nor doth every Boy that is faulty separate from the School.
VII. Is he a greater Separatist that confesseth you to be a true Church, and your communion lawful, but preferreth another as fitter for him; or he that denieth Communion with true worshipping assemblies as unlawful to be Communicated with, when it is not so. If the former, then Condemning you as no Church is a diminution or no aggravation of separation, and the Local presence of an Infidel or a Scorner would be a less separate state, than the absence of your friends. If the latter (which is certain) then if I can prove the Assemblies lawful which you condemn, you are the true Separatists that condemn them, and deny Communion with them, and declare such Communion to be unlawful. I Communicate with your Assemblies, and you utterly shun, refuse and condemn Communion with ours; which then is the Separatist, if I prove ours to be as good as yours?