A26859:328
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.
And I take it for a greater Injury to us, to persuade us to Silence our selves; than to persuade the Magistrate only, to Silence, Banish, or Imprison us: For so to Suffer from another is not our Sin. But Sacrilegiously to break our Ministerial Vow, and forsake the Calling, which we were Solemnly Vowe• to, and ⟨p. 64⟩this while the Necessity of Souls cry for Help; is a Sin, which few Men are so bad, as to persuade us to with open Face, without some pious fraudulent Pretence.
And I take it for a greater Injury to us, to perswade us to Silence our selves; than to perswade the Magistrate only, to Silence, Banish, or Imprison us: For so to Suffer from another is not our Sin. But Sacrilegiously to break our Ministerial Vow, and forsake the Calling, which we were Solemnly Vowe• to, and ⟨p. 64⟩this while the Necessity of Souls cry for Help; is a Sin, which few Men are so bad, as to perswade us to with open Face, without some pious fraudulent Pretence.
§. 38. Serm. p. 20. [I do not confound bare Suspending Communion, in some particular Rites, which Persons do modestly Scruple, and using it in what they judge to be Lawful; with either total, or ordinary Forbearance of Communion, in what they judge to be Lawful; and proceeding to the Forming of Separate Congregations, i. e. under other Teachers, and by other Rules, than what the Established Religion alloweth. And this is the present Case of Separation, which I intend to consider, and to make the Sinfulness, and the Mischievousness appear.