A26859:411
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.
4. I have told you that the French and Dutch Churches here administer the Sacraments by another rule than your Liturgy, and yet are no Schismatics.
4. I have told you that the French and Dutch Churches here administer the Sacraments by another rule than your Liturgy, and yet are no Schismaticks.
5. And your rule hath many parts: It requireth Preaching, praying, reading the Psalms and two Chapters, and delivering baptism and the Lords Supper in Christs words, and repeating the Creed, the Lords Prayer and the Decalogue. And all that I do when I officiate for any man (for I have no Church,) and others do it with whom I converse. But if it be omitting any thing else in your rule that maketh a separation, what is it? I oft hear Conformists omit divers prayers. I have seen Dr. Horton give the Lords Supper, I think, to the greater part that sate. I doubt most Parishes separate, if every omission make a separatist.
6. But thus far you satisfy me, that you judge all for separatists [that preach without all your Assent, consent, subscriptions, that the Covenant bindeth no man living, no not the Parliament men that took it, to endeavour any alteration of Church Government, that it is not lawful to resist any commissioned by the King, (without exception) and much more such: That all are ••••ratists that administer not Sacraments according to your rule, which pronounceth baptized Infants saved so dying, without excepting Atheists, Infidels, or any, and this as undoubted and certain by Gods word; which requireth the Minister to refuse Baptism and Christendom, where the dedicating Image of the Cross is not submitted to, when the Parent or adult judge it an unlawful Sacrament: And where Baptism must be denied to all that will not make Godfathers and Godmothers the Sole Covenanting undertakers for their Children, without speaking a Covenanting word themselves: And when your rule requireth all Ministers to deny Sacramental Communion to all that scruple kneeling in the reception, and yet excommunicateth them and ruineth them for not Communicating when they are rejected: And also ipso facto Excommunicate: To omit much more such, this is your rule, which he that swerveth from it, is a separist.