A26865:505
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 23
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.
29. The foolish disputes of the manner of Gods knowing future contingents, are (by clear reason) to be cast out of the Church and Schools.
30. In a word, a convenient explication will manifest that the difference in all these Controversies really is next to none, except in the point of Perseverance; and that in that point those that hold with Augustine and Prosper, that not all the truly justified, and sanctified do persevere, but all the Elect; and those that hold that all the justified and sanctified are Elect, and do persevere; have great reason to number this difference among those School disputes which should break no charity nor communion among Christians. But of Perseverance I have long ago published my thoughts in a peculiar Treatise.
30. In a word, a convenient explication will manifest that the difference in all these Controversies really is next to none, except in the point of Perseverance; and that in that point those that hold with Augustine and Prosper, that not all the truly justified, and sanctified do persevere, but all the Elect; and those that hold that all the justified and sanctified are Elect, and do persevere; have great reason to number this difference among those Schooldisputes which should break no charity nor communion among Christians. But of Perseverance I have long ago published my thoughts in a peculiar Treatise.
I have said thus much to show the world not only that we ought not to be silenced or oppressed as an odious sort of people, for those Doctrines which some abhor (when we subscribe to the same Articles of the Churches Doctrine as they do); but also that it is a mixture of that ignorance and pride which is the disease and calamity of Church-men as well as of the world, which hath caused most of the heats on both sides, and the Cruelties in Holland, or in England, thence proceeding about these Controversies. And that when men have more Understanding or Humility, these differences will but little disturb the Church.