A26859:419
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. We do not say, 1. That you are no true Ministers or Churches. 2. Nor that it is unlawful to communicate with you: Ergo it is not true that we do the same things.
3. But it is the External action [the whole same] that maketh a separatist. A Parson in the Ale-house lost his Common prayer book: When he came to Church, he told them his mishap, and only read what was in the Bible, Query whether his Flock and he were separatists? An old Parson that I was bread under, could scarce see, but could say most of the Prayers without book: He said what he could remember, and got a day Labourer one year, and a Taylor another to read the Chapters: Query, Whether we were all separatists?
§. 58. But you undertake to tell the Reason why I am unwilling to confess a separation, because we have formerly severely condemned it in others, and yet do the same things for which we charged others as guilty of a sinful separation.
Ans. If this be not true, it is not well; show me where, and prove, when I ever condemned any for the same that I do, or else take more heed what you write hereafter.