A26865:435
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 17
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.
17 Obj. The only reason (say most of them) why they forsook their Ministry was, that they durst not abjure the Covenant: Dispense with them for this, and they are Conformists. But if that be the only thing they scruple, then why are they not Conformists in all other particulars, against which they pretended no such exceptions? And what doeth renouncing the Covenant concern the people, &c? Thus the Ecclesiastical Politician, Pag. 242, 243.
17 Obj. The only reason (say most of them) why they forsook their Ministry was, that they durst not abjure the Covenant: Dispense with them for this, and they are Conformists. But if that be the only thing they scruple, then why are they not Conformists in all other particulars, against which they pretended no such exceptions? And what doeth renouncing the Covenant concern the people, &c? Thus the Ecclesiastical Polititian, Pag. 242, 243.
Ans. 1. Is this flaming-hot Disputer so much better acquainted with us, than we are with our selves and one another? Hath he talked with the most of us? or have the most ever said or written, that it is only the Covenant that we stick at? I must profess, of all the Nonconformists that ever I knew or spake with, I never knew any one of this mind, which he saith [the most of them say] they are of. Nay I never heard of any one Nonconformist of that mind. And if the world and posterity must be told so confidently, that most say and hold that, which I that am supposed so much on their side, did never know nor hear of any one man that said or held, you may judge what a history posterity is like to have of this age; and also with whom we have to do, and upon what terms. I confess I know one that hath suffered ⟨p. 112⟩the loss of all these many years, and been denied so much as leave to teach School, that is for Episcopacy, Liturgy and Ceremonies as lawful, and never took the Covenant, nor was ever for it, nor for the Parliaments War, but against both, that yet cannot disoblige every one that ever did take the Covenant, so far as is required to Conformity, nor cannot subscribe or declare Assent and Consent to every word in the three Books so to be consented to. But such a one as sticks at the Covenant only, I never knew nor heard of.