A26865:102
An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II.…
An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II. an answer to the accusations urged as reasons for the silencing of about 2000 by Bishop Morley ..., III. reasons proving it the duty and interest of the bishops and conformists to endeavour earnestly their restoration : with a postscript upon oral debates with Mr. H. Dodwell, against his reasons for their silence ... : written in 1668 and 1669, for the most of it, and now published as an addition to the defence against Dr. Stillingfleet, and as an account to the silencers of the reasons of our practice / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst and D. Newman, 1681
AN APOLOGY FOR THE SILENCED MINISTERS, Especially for their not cea… › Part 2
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.
Mark, (if experience signify any thing at all with you) whether the Gospel hath not risen and fallen in its successes in all ages and Countries, as the wisdom, skill, and utterance and holiness of the Preachers of it did rise or fall.
Mark, (if experience signifie any thing at all with you) whether the Gospel hath not risen and fallen in its successes in all ages and Countrys, as the wisdom, skill, and utterance and holiness of the Preachers of it did rise or fall.
My Lord Verulam hath truly minded us (in his Considerations) that our Calling is not like a Kings, which consisteth more in authority than abilities, but a function to be exercised by personal abilities, though not without Divine authority, like a Licensed Physicians or Lawyers. And would you devise a more effectual way to make, all Physicians the scorn of the world, than if you could deprive them of their skill, and make them all empty ignorant men; or to make all Lawyers the common scorn, than to set up only such as can scarce speak sense or reason, for the people to laugh at, or the Stages to make Plays on. Again I tell you, that men will be men, and reason will be reason, when those that would set up an Image instead of humanity and reason, have done their worst.
In a word, when it is possible for us to believe that neither England or Wales, neither populous Cities, nor ignorant Countries, do need any more help than the present Parish Ministers either do or can afford them, we promise to give over Preaching the Gospel in this Land.
In a word, when it is possible for us to believe that neither England or VVales, neither populous Cities, nor ignorant Countrys, do need any more help than the present Parish Ministers either do or can afford them, we promise to give over Preaching the Gospel in this Land.