A26859:367
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. If one like you should plead for turning all the families in London into one, and making only one Common Father or Master of a families, who should send Stewards to every house, of his own making, to give them their victuals, he only being the proper Governor, and this man should plead as you do, that it is disturbing the peace of the great family, to reduce them to their Infant State, by restoring ⟨p. 71⟩particular families, more wit or reputation than yours would not keep his cause from shame. Or if he pleaded that all the Schools in a Diocese, or many 100 or 1000, should have but one Schoolmaster with Ushers that have no power to take in or put out or use the Rod, and that to retrieve this to the Infant State is seditious, the reason of mankind would shame his reasoning. And when men know what Pastoral Guidance is, the case here will be as plain.
2. If one like you should plead for turning all the families in London into one, and making only one Common Father or Master of a families, who should send Stewards to every house, of his own making, to give them their victuals, he only being the proper Governour, and this man should plead as you do, that it is disturbing the peace of the great family, to reduce them to their Infant State, by restoring ⟨p. 71⟩particular families, more wit or reputation than yours would not keep his cause from shame. Or if he pleaded that all the Schools in a Diocess, or many 100 or 1000, should have but one Schoolmaster with Ushers that have no power to take in or put out or use the Rod, and that to retrive this to the Infant State is seditious, the reason of mankind would shame his reasoning. And when men know what Pastoral Guidance is, the case here will be as plain.
3. Our Reason for desiring (not the Primitive paucity of Christians, but) the Primitive form of Christ is. 1. Because Christ by his Apostles instituted it: (Mr. Thorndike once spake well to that). 2. Because we can prove that he was faithful in forming his house and Church, as Moses was in forming that of the Jews. 3. Because we never heard it proved that man had power to alter what Christ by his Spirit in the Apostles founded: neither having their infallibility nor commission. 4. At least we think it is the surest way to hold to that which we are sure God settled, till we can prove that men have power to change the very form.