A26865:146
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 3
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.
Obj But if the Magistrate may suspend them, and deny them liberty in his dominions, then it is he, and not every Minister▪ that is to judg who deserveth such restraint.
1. If you speak of public judgment (which is the public decision of a controverted cause) no doubt it is only the Magistrate that is Judg, in foro civili: No Pastor may enter into the Judgment▪ seat, and judg his own cause. But if you speak of a private judgment of discerning, every mans reason is the discerner of his own duty; for he cannot do it without discerning it.
1. If you speak of publick judgment (which is the publick decision of a controverted cause) no doubt it is only the Magistrate that is Judg, in foro civili: No Pastor may enter into the Judgment▪ seat, and judg his own cause. But if you speak of a private judgment of discerning, every mans reason is the discerner of his own duty; for he cannot do it without discerning it.
2. The Magistrate is to judg publicly, but not as he list, as left to his own will; but as an officer of Christ under the regulation of his Laws, (as our Judges are regulated by the Kings Laws.) The King may judg between an Infidel and a Christian, whether Christ be the Son of God; but not indifferently as he please; but only in the affirmative. He may judg if it become a public Controversy, whether God shall be worshipped? whether he may be blasphemed? whether there be a life to come? whether the Scripture be Gods word? and so, whether there shall be a Ministry? whether Ministers shall preach in his Dominions? or so many as is necessary to mens Salvation? But he is bound before hand to judg only one way, and hath no power to judg on the other side at all. Else he might judg that men shall not be saved? and that Christ shall have no Ministers or Church; and consequently be no Christ.