A26859:331
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.
2. What mean you by [Forming] a Congregation? If their Presence be my Forming them, it is but because I speak to them: For, I neither Persuade nor Drive them to be there. But if you mean, Forming them into a Distinct Church, and becoming their Pastor, I was never Related as a Pastor, to any Church, but Kidderminster; nor have these Twenty Years, been a Pastor to any; but borrowed other Mens Pulpits, to Preach a Lecture •o such as say they need it.
2. What mean you by [Forming] a Congregation? If their Presence be my Forming them, it is but because I speak to them: For, I neither Perswade nor Drive them to be there. But if you mean, Forming them into a Distinct Church, and becoming their Pastor, I was never Related as a Pastor, to any Church, but Kiderminster; nor have these Twenty Years, been a Pastor to any; but borrowed other Mens Pulpits, to Preach a Lecture •o such as say they need it.
3. Your word [Separate,] I have Examined before. You Separate from My Auditory, and more than Separate; and I Separate not from Yours: Who then is the Separatist?
4. All the Parishes about you, and the Bishop of Ely in your Parish, that judge it Lawful to Hear you, yet are Absent from you; and so are some Nonconformists, that think they must Preach themselves; and cannot be in Two Places at once. Is that Separating?