A26859:497
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. And alas all this is nothing to the suffering of thousands of Souls! to perish for lack of knowledge, whose case it is lawful to compassion and lament.
3. And nature maketh it lawful to feel when one is hurt, and to confess that feeling.
4. And methinks if Julian that abuseth the Christians should say, your Master bid you turn the other Check, his scorn would but aggravate his Sin: Patience is our duty; But if they call us to it who Preach and Print, and call out for the Execution of the Laws against us (as many of the most eminent of the Clergy have long done) as you said in another case, It will look but oddly: To preach to the Parliament, to put Fire to the Faggot, to accuse the King for his Licences and Clemency, to tell the Magistrates and the World, that our Schisms are because they execute not the Laws, even the Laws that fine us forty po•nd a Sermon, and lay us in the Common Gaol with Malefactors, ⟨p. 94⟩and banish us from Cities and Corporations, I say for these men to say [complain not,] is a smart accusation of themselves. For from good men good is to be expected; but if I meet with Gentlemen on the road that take away my Money, clothes and horse, and wound me, and tell me how much I am beholden to them, because they did not cut my throat, it's lawful to know what they are, though I must be patient. And I told you before, when you talk of being made a Sacrifice, if a few despised men censure you, while you have all your Honour, Reputation, Riches and many preferments to arm you against their thoughts and breath, methinks showeth that this Counsel is as seasonable to your self as to the suffering Non-conformists.
4. And methinks if Julian that abuseth the Christians should say, your Master bid you turn the other Check, his scorn would but aggravate his Sin: Patience is our duty; But if they call us to it who Preach and Print, and call out for the Execution of the Laws against us (as many of the most eminent of the Clergy have long done) as you said in another case, It will look but odly: To preach to the Parliament, to put Fire to the Faggot, to accuse the King for his Licences and Clemency, to tell the Magistrates and the World, that our Schisms are because they execute not the Laws, even the Laws that fine us forty pond a Sermon, and lay us in the Common Gaol with Malefactors,