A26859:305
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.
XXVII. What if the Magistrate grant a Toleration of divers Modes of Worship, as the French, and Dutch Churches are here Tolerated, and many in Holland, and in many other Countries? Are these separating Schismatics, that differ from each other? If so, it is not because they disobey the Magistrate; for he Tolerateth them all: If not, then mere diversity of Modes of Worship maketh not Schismatics.
XXVII. What if the Magistrate grant a Toleration of divers Modes of Worship, as the French, and Dutch Churches are here Tolerated, and many in Holland, and in many other Countries? Are these separating Schismaticks, that differ from each other? If so, it is not because they disobey the Magistrate; for he Tolerateth them all: If not, then meer diversity of Modes of Worship maketh not Schismaticks.
XXVIII. If it be no true Political Church (in the strict sense as an Organized Society, which hath not true Authorized Pastors, and if any Parish have either Uncapable Persons▪ or such as were never Consented to by the Flocks, and so have no True Pastor; and if the Bishops hold, That Parishes are not proper Political Churches, but parts of Churches, having no Pastors that have the Power of the Keys, or the whole Essence of the Pastoral Office; but only Half-Pastors, that want an Essential Part of the Power. If on any such Account, any Parishes are no true Pastoral Churches: Qu. Whether to Separate from such a Parish, be to Separate from a Church in the sense in question?
XXVIII. If it be no true Political Church (in the strict sense as an Organized Society, which hath not true Authorized Pastors, and if any Parish have either Vncapable Persons▪ or such as were never Consented to by the Flocks, and so have no True Pastor; and if the Bishops hold, That Parishes are not proper Political Churches, but parts of Churches, having no Pastors that have the Power of the Keyes, or the whole Essence of the Pastoral Office; but only Half-Pastors, that want an Essential Part of the Power. If on any such Account, any Parishes are no true Pastoral Churches: Qu. Whether to Separate from such a Parish, be to Separate from a Church in the sense in question?