A26859:8
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
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.
Readers,
1. IF you would be truly informed of the Case of the Nonconformists, and the meaning of this Defence, you must know 1. That the mere Nonconformists of this age take not up their Judgment in trust from any party of men, and therefore take not themselves obliged to be for or against any thing, because men were so that were called Nonconformist sheretofore: As the Scripture is their Rule and objective Religion, so they reverence the judgment of the Primitive Church above the judgment of any party; And indeed are so far against Sects and Parties as such, as that their judgment is that the Church will never be well restored to desirable Concord, till our Union be Catholic, upon the terms that Christ appointed and which all good Christians have agreed in, and may agree in.
1. IF you would be truly informed of the Case of the Nonconformists, and the meaning of this Defence, you must know 1. That the meer Nonconformists of this age take not up their Judgment in trust from any party of men, and therefore take not themselves obliged to be for or against any thing, because men were so that were called Nonconformist sheretofore: As the Scripture is their Rule and objective Religion, so they reverence the judgment of the Primitive Church above the judgment of any party; And indeed are so far against Sects and Parties as such, as that their judgment is that the Church will never be well restored to desireable Concord, till our Vnion be Catholick, upon the terms that Christ appointed and which all good Christians have agreed in, and may agree in.
2. That what the mere Nonconformists of this age desired for Concord and Reformation, as to the old Liturgy and Conformity, is best known by their common Proposals 1660, all the Ministers of London being by Mr. Calamy, Mr. Ash and Dr. Reynolds, invited to Zion-College freely to give their judgments: who offered nothing for Church-Government but Bishop Usher's Primitive form, and nothing for Worship but the Reforming of the Liturgy, and the free use of additional forms: Their exceptions against passages in the Liturgy being not thought absolutely necessary to Communion. And it must be remembered that they offered then, 1. A Defence of those Exceptions, 2. A Reformed Liturgy or Additions, 3. A Petition for Peace and preventing Schism, to the Bishops, which they never answered to this day, that we know of.