A26865:172
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 4
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.
Ans. There are more things go for indifferent with some men, than Ceremonies. Charity in general without any determinate object or way of expression, is nothing. It is but a Logical name. And as for the objects, some are to our charity of standing necessity, and so are some expressions of it; and some other acts of charity are about mutable circumstances to be governed by men; that is, the Universal Laws of the Universal Sovereign, have predetermined of some, and not left them as mutable to the Laws of men. It is not in our judgment an indifferent thing, nor alterable by the will of Princes, whether Parents shall nourish their Children, or whether Children shall supply their Parents wants if able? Nor whether we shall give food to him that is dying through famine? Nor whether we shall seek to save mens lives from fire or water, or other dangers? Otherwise all the charge against the damned at the day of Judgment, described Mat. 25. might be answered in a word, and Christs mouth be stopped, by saying, Rulers forbade us to feed thee, to clothe thee, to visit thee in thy members. He that may not command me to murder the innocent by action, may not command me to do it by omission or privation; except in case that the public good or safety, or the lives of many will be hazarded by my saving the life of one. It is not to us a thing indifferent whether a man or many thousand men, be saved or damned. Nor is it in mans power to warrant us to forbear that means that is really necessary to mens Salvation, according to Gods ordinary way of working.
Ans. There are more things go for indifferent with some men, than Ceremonies. Charity in general without any determinate object or way of expression, is nothing. It is but a Logical name. And as for the objects, some are to our charity of standing necessity, and so are some expressions of it; and some other acts of charity are about mutable circumstances to be governed by men; that is, the Universal Laws of the Universal Soveraign, have predetermined of some, and not left them as mutable to the Laws of men. It is not in our judgment an indifferent thing, nor alterable by the will of Princes, whether Parents shall nourish their Children, or whether Children shall supply their Parents wants if able? Nor whether we shall give food to him that is dying through famine? Nor whether we shall seek to save mens lives from fire or water, or other dangers? Otherwise all the charge against the damned at the day of Judgment, described