A26865:20
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
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.
Humbly directed to those of the Lord Bishops, and to the rest of the Conformable Clergy, of their mind, who have procured our Silence and Sufferings, or the continuance thereof.
Most Reverend, and Right Reverend Lords and Fathers, and Reverend Brethren,
HAVING once tried in vain (though by the favour of His Majesties Gracious Encouragement and Commission) what speaking might do; and since that tried, as much in vain, what silence in this kind will do; I have resolved once more, before the expiring of my gasping hopes, to resist despair, and to try whether so many years experience hath opened your ears and hearts, to the Reasons and humble Requests of those, who not so much for their Sufferings, ⟨p. 2⟩as for the Souls of men, do daily eat the bread of sorrow; At least, before I resign this Skeleton to the dust, to leave one more testimony of my zeal for Unity and Peace, and make one more attempt for the Gospel and the Church of Christ, that I may not appear before my Judg, in the guilt of negligence, cowardice or unprofitableness: Not to be your Accuser, nor a Justifier of any of the weaknesses or miscarriages of the present Nonconformists, nor yet of those of former times; but humbly to re-mind you of the things that concern the interest of Christ, the people, and your selves.
HAVING once tryed in vain (though by the favour of His Majesties Gracious Encouragement and Commission) what speaking might do; and since that tryed, as much in vain, what silence in this kind will do; I have resolved once more, before the expiring of my gasping hopes, to resist despair, and to try whether so many years experience hath opened your ears and hearts, to the Reasons and humble Requests of those, who not so much for their Sufferings, ⟨p. 2⟩