A26865:517
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 24
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.
4 And as long as we take nothing from the men of various modes and fashions, by unity in the Essentials of Humanity and Christianity, to imagine that it is the way to union to force all Dissenters to their modes, is but to renounce union, and to gratify a distant party so far as to make them laugh at us as fools, and hope ere long to get us at their mercy, and thereby to lose, disoblige and destroy those that are nearer to us, and would indeed be our friends and strength; and to become enemies to our own families, rather than to displease the people of France by not wearing their fashions.
4 And as long as we take nothing from the men of various modes and fashions, by unity in the Essentials of Humanity and Christianity, to imagine that it is the way to union to force all Dissenters to their modes, is but to renounce union, and to gratifie a distant party so far as to make them laugh at us as fools, and hope ere long to get us at their mercy, and thereby to lose, disoblige and destroy those that are nearer to us, and would indeed be our friends and strength; and to become enemies to our own families, rather than to displease the people of France by not wearing their fashions.
5. And if you had attained a seeming union with the Papists, you are not sure it will hold seven year. For their Religion still thriveth, and thereby changeth, and is yet far short of its maturity in all likelihood. For General Councils make their Religion; and who knoweth how many General Councils (of forty Bishops perhaps like that at Trent, for a great part of the time) there may yet be, and what alterations of Religion they may make? And are you sure you can go along with them in all as far as they will go? If you must break at last, unite not on such mutable terms at first.
But there's no talking to men whose interest and passion, and partiality is the maker of their Religion. It is not my purpose to speak any of this, either to one of Grotius's mind (if Saraviad, and the Book called Grotius Papirans be credible, or if he be that man that wrote the Discussio Apolog. Rivet; who would have us unite upon the acceptance of all the Councils even that of Trent) nor to such as come as near them as Mr. Thorndike, nor any of that degree of affinity. For I suppose they are already gone out of the hearing of such a voice as mine.