A26865:282
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 › Objection 7
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.
7 Obj. You think we should grant you leave to Preach; but what leave did you give us when you were in power? Then such requests could not be heard.
Ans. Whom do you speak this of? Of all the silenced Ministers, or some? of most, or few?
1. We were never at all in any other power, than to Preach the Gospel, and administer the Sacraments to the people of one Parish, and to guide them by Gods Word. For my own part, it hath in all changes been my lot to be among them of the unpleasing or the afflicted side. What the Parliament would have done, if Cromwell had not garbled them, I know not. But when the Presbyterians seemed uppermost, I was looked on as a dissenter. When that which they call the Rump was uppermost, I was de jure by their Order sequestered, though not de facto, and greatly under their displeasure. And with the Army I was out much more. Cromwell was not for me, because I was not for him. When was it then ⟨p. 84⟩that we were in Power? A power of Ordination no Minister in the County that ever I heard of, claimed or used. None of us did Impose our hands in an Ordination. When the Commissioners for trying Ministers cast upon me some of their work, I disclaimed it, till the angry importunity of many Episcopal Divines, that were referred to my Examination, and would else have lost their augmentations or places, prevailed with me to keep them in. A great part of the Episcopal Ministers in our Country (and in all that I knew) were never removed. And those that were, might have had other places; and I knew not that any were by any of Cromwells Orders forbidden to Preach or use the Common-Prayer in private houses, till towards the later part of his Usurpation; which yet I never knew any execute within the reach of my (then) acquaintance. For my own part, by the approbation aforesaid, and Certificates, I kept many in their Benefices, (even the Vicars own Curate that in 1640 was cast out before I was called to the place.) And I published in Print in my own name and my Brethren's, our detestation of the casting out of any competent worthy Minister for his judgment for Episcopacy and Conformity, much more for being in arms against the Parliament, or Preaching against them. And I published it as our earnest request, that all men that were utterly ignorant, Heretical and scandalous, or of vicious debauched lives, might be cast out, without respect to other opinions, or Civil causes; and that all the rest might unite their labours, and be encouraged. This is yet in Print. And I met with few of my acquaintance in the Ministry that were not of the same mind.