A26859:398
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.
By this rule you may be a separatist, as oft as the Law changeth, if you will not change as fast as it. Yea though you Judge the Laws impositious to be heinous sins, yet you must do them all or give over your Ministry: And so God must ask leave of the Rulers to be worshipped as God. If he were a God of their making, they might put him down.
By this rule you may be a separatist, as oft as the Law changeth, if you will not change as fast as it. Yea though you Judge the Laws impositious to be hainous sins, yet you must do them all or give over your Ministry: And so God must ask leave of the Rulers to be worshiped as God. If he were a God of their making, they might put him down.
And, I think, it will prove confusion and worse disobedience than our preaching is, to lay all the peoples obedience herein on their opinion of the Rulers Orthodoxness: no doubt, but the heathen and heretical Rulers are Governors even of the Church, though none hath power for destruction or against God. The Duke of Brandenburgh's Subjects judge him not Orthodox: Are they therefore absolved from obeying him in matters of Religion? Calvenists Subjects think Lutheran Princes not Orthodox; and Protestants, in France, Hungary, Poland, judge their Papist Kings not Orthodox: Yea, what if we judge the Bishops not Orthodox that made the Cannons or Liturgy, are we absolved from obeying them. And what if any Subjects think that the King is not Orthodox? And Parliaments, who also make our Laws, contain men of many minds: And the Parliament of 1640. is said by the Bishops to have been far from Orthodox, even to have been Presbyterians, and Erastians, and even for Rebellion; and yet they ⟨p. 79⟩made divers Laws which the King consented to and ratified: Were not men obliged by those Laws: And indeed if the Lawmakers being not Orthodox null his Laws about Religion, why not all his other Laws.
And, I think, it will prove confusion and worse disobedience than our preaching is, to lay all the peoples obedience herein on their opinion of the Rulers Orthodoxness: no doubt, but the heathen and heretical Rulers are Governours even of the Church, though none hath power for destruction or against God. The Duke of Brandenburghs Subjects judge him not Orthodox: Are they therefore absolved from obeying him in matters of Religion? Calvenists Subjects think Lutherane Princes not Orthodox; and Protestants, in France, Hungary, Poland, judge their Papist Kings not Orthodox: Yea, what if we judge the Bishops not Orthodox that made the Cannons or Liturgy, are we absolved from obeying them. And what if any Subjects think that the King is not Orthodox? And Parliaments, who also make our Laws, contain men of many minds: And the Parliament of 1640. is said by the Bishops to have been far from Orthodox, even to have been Presbyterians, and Erastians, and even for Rebellion; and yet they